New companion to be announced during Match of the Day on Saturday

Thursday, 21 April 2016 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Match of the Day: Everton vs Manchester United F.A. Cup Semi-Final, 23rd April 2016 (Credit: BBC One)The BBC have announced that they plan to reveal who will playing the latest sidekick to join Peter Capaldi in the TARDIS in Doctor Who this coming Saturday, 23rd April, during the half-time interval of the F.A. Cup Semi-Final match between Everton and Manchester United that will be shown live on BBC One from 4:50pm.

With kick-off due at 5:15pm this is likely to feature just after 6:00pm.




FILTER: - BBC - Leading News - Publicity - Series 10/36

Steven Moffat to Step Down as Showrunner

Friday, 22 January 2016 - Reported by Marcus
The BBC has confirmed that Doctor Who Showrunner Steven Moffat, is to leave the programme after Series 10.

The Corporation confirmed the news on the official Doctor Who Twitter feed, announcing that writer Chris Chibnall will take over in 2017.

Steven Moffat has been the guiding force behind Doctor Who since 2010, casting both Matt Smith and Peter Capaldi in the role of the Doctor. Series Ten will be his sixth series in charge, and the 36th in the show's long history. The 12 part swan song for the producer will be screened in the spring of 2017 meaning that only the 2016 Christmas special, and the new spin off series Class, will be screened this year.

BBC One Controller Charlotte Moore explained the reasons for moving the series back to the spring.
I have decided to schedule Steven’s big finale series in Spring 2017 to bring the nation together for what will be a huge event on the channel. 2016 is spoilt with national moments including the Euros and Olympics and I want to hold something big back for 2017 - I promise it will be worth the wait!
The new showrunner, taking over for Series 11, will be Chris Chibnall, best known for his work on Broadchurch. Chibnall has written six episodes of Doctor Who, as well as many episodes of Torchwood, where he was Co-Producer.

Moffat talked about his feelings on leaving the show
Feels odd to be talking about leaving when I’m just starting work on the scripts for season 10, but the fact is my timey-wimey is running out. While Chris is doing his last run of Broadchurch, I’ll be finishing up on the best job in the universe and keeping the TARDIS warm for him. It took a lot of gin and tonic to talk him into this, but I am beyond delighted that one of the true stars of British Television drama will be taking the Time Lord even further into the future. At the start of season 11, Chris Chibnall will become the new showrunner of Doctor Who. And I will be thrown in a skip.
Charlotte Moore paid tribute to the outgoing showrunner
I want to thank Steven Moffat for everything he has given Doctor Who – I’ve loved working with him, he is an absolute genius and has brought fans all over the world such joy,” she added. “I will be very sad to see him leave the show but I can’t wait to see what he will deliver in his last ever series next year with a brand new companion.

I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome Chris Chibnall, a wonderfully talented writer who I know will bring something very special to the hit series.
Like his two predecessors Chris Chibnall is a life long fan of the series, even appearing on a BBC One discussion programme about the series in 1986. He talked about his love of the show
Doctor Who is the ultimate BBC programme: bold, unique, vastly entertaining, and adored all around the world. So it's a privilege and a joy to be the next curator of this funny, scary and emotional family drama. I’ve loved Doctor Who since I was four years old, and I’m relishing the thought of working with the exceptional team at BBC Wales to create new characters, creatures and worlds for the Doctor to explore. Steven’s achieved the impossible by continually expanding Doctor Who's creative ambition, while growing its global popularity. He’s been a dazzling and daring showrunner, and hearing his plans and stories for 2017, it’s clear he’ll be going out with a bang. Just to make my life difficult.
Polly Hill, BBC controller of drama commissioning, added:
Like Charlotte I would like to thank Steven for his brilliance, which has made Doctor Who a global hit under his tenure. Chris Chibnall is the perfect successor to take over the reins of this incredible show, so I am delighted that his love for Doctor Who has made it impossible for him to resist ! Chris is an incredible writer and his vision and passion for Doctor Who gives it an exciting future and promises to be a real treat for Doctor Who fans across the world.




FILTER: - Leading News - Production - Steven Moffat

New Doctor Who Spin Off Announced

Thursday, 1 October 2015 - Reported by Marcus
The BBC has announced production of a new Doctor Who spin off series has been commissioned for BBC Three for release in 2016, by which time BBC Three is likely to be an online only channel.

Class is a new 8 part series from acclaimed author, Patrick Ness. The series will be set in contemporary London and will feature Coal Hill School, first seen in Doctor Who's very first episode in 1963.
Incredible dangers are breaking through the walls of time and space, and with darkness coming, London is unprotected. With all the action, heart and adrenalin of the best YA fiction (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Hunger Games), this is Coal Hill School and Doctor Who like you’ve never seen them before.
Class will the the third full Spin off Series from Doctor Who, commissioned by the BBC. It follows Torchwood, which launched in 2006 and The Sarah Jane Adventures which launched on 2007

Steven Moffat, who will be executive producer on the series, says,
No one has documented the dark and exhilarating world of the teenager like Patrick Ness, and now we're bringing his brilliant story-telling into Doctor Who. This is growing up in modern Britain - but with monsters!
On his first television series, writer Patrick Ness says,
I'm astounded and thrilled to be entering the Doctor Who universe, which is as vast as time and space itself. There's so much room there for all kinds of amazing stories, and to work with Steven Moffat and Brian Minchin to find a place to tell one of my own has been an absolute joy. I can't wait for people to meet the heroes of Class, to meet the all-new villains and aliens, to remember that the horrors of the darkest corners of existence are just about on par with having to pass your A-Levels.
Damian Kavanagh, Controller BBC Three adds,
We’re excited to give Patrick Ness this opportunity to work with us at BBC Three and the Doctor Who family. Patrick understands young audiences and I’m delighted he will use his incredible skills as a storyteller to delight audiences on BBC Three. BBC Three will always innovate and offer opportunities for brilliant new talent.
Polly Hill, Controller BBC Drama Commissioning, adds,
I am thrilled that Patrick Ness is writing his first drama series for BBC Three. The combination of Patrick and Steven Moffat, is an exciting partnership that has created a brilliant Doctor Who spin off for our BBC Three audience.
Class is executive produced by Steven Moffatt, Patrick Ness and Brian Minchin. The 8 x 45 minute series will film in and around Wales from Spring, 2016 and be released next year.




FILTER: - BBC - Class - Leading News

Doctor Who Series 10 Confirmed

Tuesday, 14 July 2015 - Reported by Marcus
Hidden away on page 32 of the BBC Worldwide Annual Review, published today, is the first official confirmation of the commissioning of Doctor Who Series 10

On page 32 of the report, detailing with Corporate governance the text reads
During the year matters under review included plans to launch the global genre brands BBC First in Australia and New Zealand on Foxtel and BBC Brit and BBC Earth in Poland; and investments in The Musketeers S3 and Doctor Who S10. Additionally, during the year WEx reviewed people policies and development opportunities across the company.
Full report on the review here here




FILTER: - Doctor Who - Leading News - Series 10/36

Doctor Who Returns Saturday 19th September

Thursday, 9 July 2015 - Reported by Marcus
BBC One has confirmed Doctor Who will be back on UK screens on Saturday 19th Sepetember

The news was announced via the channel's twitter feed, along with the release of the first trailer for the upcoming series. BBC America has confirmed that Series 9, the 35th Season of Doctor Who, will also première in the United States on the same day.



The news was announced at San Diego Comic-Con where the stars of the show were appearing along with the Doctor Who lead Writer and Executive Producer Steven Moffat.
Series 9

The Doctor (Peter Capaldi) is joined by Clara Oswald (Jenna Coleman) for time travel on a cinematic scale. Having the time of their lives, the pair meet new and old monsters, and go on a journey that takes them to deadly alien planets, creepy underwater bases, Vikings villages, a global Zygon uprising, and leads them through hidden alien dens, to the very end of time itself.

Meeting monsters old and new the Doctor will come face to face with Missy (Michelle Gomez), a city of Daleks, deadly mercenaries called the Mire, terrifying ghosts and more.
Having been filming in Cardiff since January, Peter Capaldi said:
Soaring through all of time and space, series nine sees the Doctor throw himself into life with a new hunger for adventure. The Cosmos is there for the taking, thrilling, epic and enticing, and his to play in. But he’s almost reckless in his abandon. It’s almost like he’s running from something, something that if it ever catches him will turn his life upside down.
Previously announced and taking up a guest role in the new season will be Maisie Williams, having already achieved global success for her role as Arya Stark in the fantasy drama series Game of Thrones. Michelle Gomez (Missy) returns to plague the Doctor and Clara in the season opener, and UNIT are back with Jemma Redgrave and Ingrid Oliver (Osgood) returning to season nine following their popular entrance in season eight. Also confirmed as guest cast in the new series are Rebecca Front, Rufus Hound, Paul Kaye, Joivan Wade and Sophie Stone.

Series 9 Trailer Images. Credit: BBCSeries 9 Trailer Images. Credit: BBCSeries 9 Trailer Images. Credit: BBCSeries 9 Trailer Images. Credit: BBCSeries 9 Trailer Images. Credit: BBCSeries 9 Trailer Images. Credit: BBCSeries 9 Trailer Images. Credit: BBCSeries 9 Trailer Images. Credit: BBCSeries 9 Trailer Images. Credit: BBC

The show’s ninth season has been written by lead writer Steven Moffat, Toby Whithouse, Jamie Mathieson, Peter Harness, Mark Gatiss, and new writers to Doctor Who - Sarah Dollard and Catherine Tregenna; directed by Hettie Macdonald, Daniel O’Hara, Ed Bazalgette, Daniel Nettheim, Justin Molotnikov, Rachel Talalay; and produced by Tracie Simpson, Derek Ritchie, Nikki Wilson and Peter Bennett.

The team continue to shoot in Roath Lock studios, Cardiff Bay, Wales, having filmed in Tenerife, and South Wales locations, Caerwent, Caerphilly Castle, Cardiff Castle, St Athans and Margam Park.




FILTER: - Doctor Who - Leading News - Series 9/35

Big Finish to Produce New Torchwood Audio Plays

Sunday, 3 May 2015 - Reported by Marcus
Torchwood (Credit: Big Finish)Big Finish Productions, have announced they have secured the rights to Torchwood, and that they will produce six new stories starring Captain Jack and the team, this Autumn.

The licensing deal with BBC Worldwide will allow the team to recreate the series with members of the television cast, and the range will be launched in September with the return of John Barrowman as the irrepressible Captain Jack Harkness.

Conceived as a spin-off from Doctor Who, Torchwood was created by Russell T Davies and made its début on television in 2006. The top secret organisation Torchwood saved Cardiff (and often the world) from alien menaces and terrible forces, trying to keep the city safe from the inter-dimensional rift that ran through it. In charge of Torchwood was Captain Jack, a man who has been called: “A companion to the Doctor, a rogue Time Agent, an immortal, a dangerous con-man, and very good at parties.” Captain Jack can't be exterminated or trusted, and there's just no stopping him.

The new series of audio dramas will each focus on different members of the Torchwood team, exploring the impact that a mysterious event has on them. Starting off the range will be John Barrowman, who stars in The Conspiracy, a deadly thriller by David Llewellyn.

Torchwood creator Russell T Davies says:
Torchwood has been to the Moon, and America, and the Himalayas, but now I think it's finally coming home, to the brilliance of Big Finish.
Producer James Goss added
What's great about Torchwood is that it is as unstoppable as Captain Jack and just as persuasive. Torchwood has been a ratings success on nearly every BBC channel, and it's one of the few UK series to translate to America. It's already been a series of iPlayer-topping audio plays, and we are thrilled to continue it. It’s just so exciting to be starting off the range with a drama starring John Barrowman – he leapt at the chance to display a whole new side to Captain Jack.
Executive producer Jason Haigh-Ellery says:
It's fantastic that we will be bringing Captain Jack back to life (for perhaps the thousandth time!) with Big Finish. There are many new Torchwood tales to be told and I can't wait for Jack and his team to defend the Earth once again. I am very grateful for the continuing faith that both the BBC and Russell T Davies has shown in us and very excited to enter into a new world for Big Finish.
Executive producer Nicholas Briggs says:
Torchwood is something we’ve wanted to do for ages. It has great characters and there are many stories to be told. Our mission is to bring a whole new series of dramatic adventures to life. We’re starting off with these more intimate, focused releases and will then move on to bigger casts and even wider scope. We’re very much looking forward to working with all the cast and it’s been such a pleasure liaising with Russell T Davies about this. He couldn’t have been more supportive and helpful. Our Torchwood producer, James Goss, has really hit the ground running and his tangible enthusiasm is already proving rather an inspiration to us.
Additional cast members for the series will be revealed later. Torchwood: The Conspiracy will be released in September 2015, with the remaining five instalments following monthly from January 2016.





FILTER: - Big Finish - Leading News - Torchwood

Full Doctor Who trailer released

Sunday, 13 July 2014 - Reported by Chuck Foster
The first, full trailer for the forthcoming series of Doctor Who has now been released by the BBC. The minute long trailer was broadcast on BBC One during the half-time interval for the World Cup Final at 8:57pm.





FILTER: - Leading News - Series 8/34 - UK

Doctor Who return confirmed for August 2014

Friday, 23 May 2014 - Reported by Chuck Foster
The BBC have confirmed that the next series of Doctor Who will have its premiere in the United Kingdom during August 2014.



No day has been specified as yet, though previous series have been known to air from Bank Holiday weekends.






FILTER: - UK - Leading News - Series 8/34

Nine Troughton episodes recovered

Friday, 11 October 2013 - Reported by John Bowman
From left: Ralph Watson as Captain Knight, Patrick Troughton as the Doctor, and Nicholas Courtney as Colonel Lethbridge-Stewart in The Web of Fear. (Credit: BBC Worldwide)Nine episodes from the fifth season of Doctor Who and starring Patrick Troughton as the Doctor have been recovered from Nigeria, having been feared gone forever, the BBC announced today.

The previously missing, presumed destroyed episodes hail from The Enemy of the World and The Web of Fear, with episodes 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 of Enemy completing that particular story and the return of episodes 2, 4, 5, and 6 of Web meaning only episode 3 of the Yeti sequel is still missing. Episode 3 of Enemy and episode 1 of Web were also returned, but were already held in the archive.

The recovery now brings the total number of missing episodes down to 97 and is the biggest single find in decades.

They - and the relevant stories' already-surviving episodes - had originally gone to Hong Kong but had been "bicycled" on and were discovered at a TV relay station in the city of Jos by Philip Morris, executive director of Television International Enterprises Archives (TIEA), who tracked records of overseas shipments made by the BBC containing tapes for transmission.

All the episodes - including a reconstructed episode 3 of Web - have been remastered and are available to buy via download as of now from iTunes by people in the UK, the USA, Canada, Australia, France, and Germany. The third episode of Web has been reconstructed by the BBC Doctor Who Restoration Team, using a selection of the 37 images that were available from the episode, along with the original audio, which has been restored.

In addition, The Enemy of the World will be available to buy on DVD from Friday 22nd November at the Doctor Who Celebration. It will then go on sale to the general public on Monday 25th November, with The Web of Fear to follow in early 2014.

It is unknown exactly when the episodes were found, but in a BBC press release statement, Morris said:
The tapes had been gathering dust in a store room at a television relay in Nigeria. I remember wiping the dust off the masking tape on the canisters and my heart missed a beat as I saw the words "Doctor Who". When I read the story code, I realised I'd found something pretty special.
Doctor Who News was at the press conference held yesterday in central London to announce the finds, where Deborah Watling, Frazer Hines, and Mark Gatiss were the special guests and screenings of episode 1 of Enemy and episode 2 of Web took place to rapturous applause.

Speaking about the recoveries, Hines told Doctor Who News:
For me, it's so exciting. We had Underwater Menace part two but the finds were in dribs and drabs. I'm so chuffed that we've got practically two complete stories. And I haven't seen these since they went out!
At the press conference, Dan Phelan, head of communication for BBC Worldwide, commented on the recent rife speculation, calling it "some 'almost' well-informed, some very wide of the mark." He also told Doctor Who News:
We wanted to get the episodes available as soon as we possibly could, but they needed to be verified and cleaned and restored and it takes time to do that.
A statement from Morris was then read out by Roy Robinson, archive co-ordinator at TIEA, part of which was as follows:
I would like to thank everybody at BBC Worldwide and BBC Television for their mammoth support during this project. It is my greatest pleasure in the 50th anniversary year of Doctor Who, in a joint project between my company TIEA and BBC Worldwide, to unveil two classic adventures.

Sadly, due to other archive commitments overseas, I am unable to be with you today. My work is endless and, as you know, the search must continue.

I would like to dedicate these episodes to everyone who has ever worked on the show and to all Doctor Who fans around the world. I have the Doctor Who fans' best interests at heart. On behalf of myself and everyone at TIEA, thank you for your continued interest, and I hope our paths will soon cross again.
A filmed interview with Morris was also shown, in which he said they had been very lucky because the episodes had been kept in optimum condition. He also praised the restoration, recovery, and archive work done by the BBC.

The screening of the second episode of The Web of Fear was introduced by Gatiss, who said:
As long as I've been a Doctor Who fan - and that's a very long time - there's been one story that I hoped, prayed, begged would one day turn up from the 106 episodes that are tragically missing from the archives.

Now, thanks to the astonishing endeavour of Philip Morris and TIEA, hunting Indiana Jones-like through dusty archives around the world and risking his neck, I'm over the moon to annnounce that not only is the number of missing episodes down to 97 but also amongst them is The Web of Fear - I'm going to say that again: The Web of Fear! Yeti! On the London Underground! Patrick Troughton! This is perhaps the quintessential Doctor Who story. A fantastic monster, a claustrophobic, iconic setting and, best of all, one of the very greatest Doctors at the height of his powers.
Watling's father, Jack, played Professor Travers in both Yeti stories, and during the question-and-answer panel, she commented on seeing her father again on the screen by simply saying: "That's brilliant!" She also added how Troughton had been like another father and another uncle to her.

Hines praised "the set boys" on The Web of Fear, saying they deserved a BAFTA and commenting that it was so realistic he thought the train lines would be live. He also recalled how Watling teased Troughton as he attempted a South American accent for Salamander in The Enemy of the World, saying that it sounded Welsh, which caused Troughton to slink away somewhat deflated!

Watling said about the episode discoveries:
When I first heard it, I couldn't quite believe it. I just thought it was another hoax and it won't be me.
But when it was finally confirmed:
I thought 'My God! I'll be back on the screen again. I'm thrilled!
Hines added:
This now gives me hope more stories of Pat's will come out of the woodwork.
Stories Hines said he would most like to see returned were The Evil of the Daleks and The Space Pirates (because of the model work), while Watling cited Fury From The Deep, and Gatiss named The Power of the Daleks and The Daleks' Master Plan as his choice candidates for recovery.

In the press statement, Fiona Eastwood, director of consumer products for BBC Worldwide, commented:
We are thrilled with the recent discovery of The Web of Fear and The Enemy of the World and we're very happy to be launching remastered versions of these treasured episodes to fans as we celebrate the 50th year of Doctor Who.




The Enemy of the World - DVD Cover. (Credit: BBC Worldwide)The Enemy of the World - Astrid, played by Mary Peach (Credit: BBC Worldwide)The Enemy of the World - Astrid, played by Mary Peach (Credit: BBC Worldwide)The Enemy of the World - Salamander, played by Patrick Troughton (Credit: BBC Worldwide)The Enemy of the World - Fedorin, played by David Nettheim (Credit: BBC Worldwide)The Enemy of the World - Image from the returned episodes (Credit: BBC Worldwide)The Enemy of the World - Image from the returned episodes (Credit: BBC Worldwide)The Enemy of the World - Image from the returned episodes (Credit: BBC Worldwide)The Enemy of the World - Image from the returned episodes (Credit: BBC Worldwide)The Enemy of the World - Image from the returned episodes (Credit: BBC Worldwide)The Enemy of the World - Image from the returned episodes (Credit: BBC Worldwide)The Enemy of the World - Image from the returned episodes (Credit: BBC Worldwide)The Enemy of the World - Image from the returned episodes (Credit: BBC Worldwide)The Enemy of the World - DVD Cover. (Credit: BBC Worldwide)The Web of Fear - DVD Cover. (Credit: BBC Worldwide)The Web of Fear - Anne Travers, played by Tina Packer. (Credit: BBC Worldwide)The Web of Fear - Sergeant Arnold, played by Jack Woolgar. (Credit: BBC Worldwide)The Web of Fear - Anne menaced by a Yeti. (Credit: BBC Worldwide)The Web of Fear - Image from the returned episodes. (Credit: BBC Worldwide)The Web of Fear - Image from the returned episodes. (Credit: BBC Worldwide)The Web of Fear - Image from the returned episodes. (Credit: BBC Worldwide)The Web of Fear - Image from the returned episodes. (Credit: BBC Worldwide)The Web of Fear - Image from the returned episodes. (Credit: BBC Worldwide)The Web of Fear - Image from the returned episodes. (Credit: BBC Worldwide)The Web of Fear - Image from the returned episodes. (Credit: BBC Worldwide)The Web of Fear - Image from the returned episodes. (Credit: BBC Worldwide)The Web of Fear - Image from the returned episodes. (Credit: BBC Worldwide)The Web of Fear - Professor Travers, played by Jack Watling. (Credit: BBC Worldwide)The Web of Fear - Menaced by the Yeti. (Credit: BBC Worldwide)The Web of Fear - Image from the returned episodes. (Credit: BBC Worldwide)The Web of Fear - Image from the returned episodes. (Credit: BBC Worldwide)The Web of Fear - Image from the returned episodes. (Credit: BBC Worldwide)The Web of Fear - Image from the returned episodes. (Credit: BBC Worldwide)The Web of Fear - Image from the returned episodes. (Credit: BBC Worldwide)The Web of Fear - Image from the returned episodes. (Credit: BBC Worldwide)The Web of Fear - Remastered Edition comparison. (Credit: BBC Worldwide)
DVD, publicity and screen images from the returned stories





FILTER: - Missing episodes - Leading News - Second Doctor - BBC Worldwide - Patrick Troughton

William Hartnell TV Interview Discovered

Friday, 16 August 2013 - Reported by John Bowman
A TV interview with William Hartnell dating from 1967 has been unearthed and will feature on the DVD release of The Tenth Planet.

The news broke today following the BBFC's classification of extras, which included an interview with Hartnell among them.

Doctor Who Restoration Team member Steve Roberts confirmed that it was an in-vision interview - meaning that it was on screen as opposed to just being audio - and stated that it was fellow team member Richard Bignell who had discovered it.

The interview was conducted by Roger Mills for Points West - the BBC's regional news show - and was held in the dressing room of the Gaumont Theatre in Taunton, where Hartnell was appearing in the panto Puss In Boots less than three months after last being seen in Doctor Who. The interview aired on Tuesday 17th January 1967.

The extra runs for 3 min 16 sec, and Bignell detailed the discovery of what is now the only known on-screen interview with Hartnell to exist:
A few years ago, I was doing research into the article I was preparing for Issue 3 of Nothing at the End of the Lane on Hartnell's rather disastrous performance as Buskin the Fairy Cobbler in the pantomime Puss In Boots, which toured around four different venues in December 1966 and January 1967, just three months after he had completed work on The Tenth Planet.

Whilst doing some work at the BBC Written Archive Centre, I checked the respective Programme-as-Broadcast sheets for the period, looking specifically at the local BBC news programmes to see if Hartnell's appearance in panto was deemed worthy of a television report.

He was in fact interviewed twice. Once in the first week of the tour in Ipswich (shown on Look East on 27th December 1966) and again during the final week in Taunton for Points West, shown on 17th January 1967. As I'd built up some contacts in the BBC's regional news libraries working on the DVDs, I dropped the respective archives a line to see if there was any chance the two interviews survived.

The first interview for Look East had long gone, but the ladies in the Bristol News Library very quickly got back to me to say that the interview done in Taunton still survived. We arranged for the footage to be sent over to London, where it was duly transferred. It shows Hartnell in his dressing room doing his make-up for one of his performances, with his "Doctor's ring" on the table and a Berwick Dalek playsuit stuffed in the corner. Hartnell speaks about his problems acting against the Daleks and how pantomime isn't "legitimate" theatre! Enjoy!!
Roberts also revealed that David Bradley was shown the footage as part of his preparation for playing the role of Hartnell in the upcoming BBC Two drama An Adventure In Space And Time.

The Region 2 DVD will be released on Monday 18th November and is available to pre-order.




FILTER: - William Hartnell - Leading News - Blu-ray/DVD