Merry Christmas from the Doctor Who News Team!

Tuesday, 25 December 2012 - Reported by Chuck Foster
The Doctor Who News team wish you a Merry Christmas, and hope you all enjoy The Snowmen!
Merry Christmas

(don't forget, you can still enter our Christmas Competition before 6:15pm tonight!)




FILTER: - Editorial

The Snowmen: publicity coverage

Monday, 24 December 2012 - Reported by Chuck Foster



Jenna-Louise Coleman was a guest on BBC Breakfast this morning, chatting about her impending arrival as Clara in tomorrow's The Snowmen, and how this relates to her previous appearance back in September, in Asylum of the Daleks:
The Clara you will meet in the Christmas Special is living in Victorian London, working in a pub, also living a bit of a double life as a governess looking after some children ...

We've already met Oswin in Asylym of the Daleks ... Basically it's what been referred to as "a soft mystery", and if anybody's hoping to get any answers ... it's something that will be ongoing for quite a while and in true Steven Moffat style you won't really get any answers in the Christmas Special, it will just raise more questions, and get more and more complicated and fascinating.
In a pre-recorded interview with entertainment correspondent Liza Mzimba, she said:
It's a mystery. I've met the Doctor once before, which he doesn't quite know yet, and it all begins to piece together and I keep popping up ...

Talking about the interaction between her character and the Doctor, she said:
It's been a really interesting process for me and for Matt how a new companion will change the Doctor and vice-versa, and trying to find our dynamic and how we're going to move forward with the show. It's been really interesting, like Matt said, the kind of days where he would be discovering things and finding ways in which the Doctor is changing and is different with his new companion.
Matt Smith mentioned the relationship between the two to Lizo:
They're figuring each other out, and it's just wonderful to see it at the start, because it reinvogorates the show. You see these two people meeting, and sussing each other out - so it's about learning how they get on together, and seeing them size each other up.

I think there's always a bit of sexual tension between the Doctor and the companion ... so I hope so!
Matt Smith was interviewed in The Independent, where he also commented on the new relationship:
The Doctor under Amy and Rory eventually became like their pet, he was just this sort of strange pet that could talk, that would sweep in every now and then. He's meeting someone new because he presents himself in a hew light and she forces him to be a different version of himself slightly.

As always with Doctor Who, the essence and heartbeat of the show is the same – old alien, hot chick travel through the universe and get into capers. That will always be the heartbeat of the show and it's whether it’s more flirtatious, whether there's more attraction, whether there's more zing, you'll have to wait and find out. I’m sure we'll cover all that territory.
He also explained a little more about the Doctor's grief at the start of the episode:
There's a great deal of time that's passed in cunning story terms. It's great because you kind of go: "500 years later..." but the burden of that loss will always be with him. Like the burden of losing Rose Tyler or whoever it is – is always with him to some extent. But I think particularly for my Doctor it is. Amy and Rory were so significant. But what I would say as well is I always think it's important for the show for that grieving to have its place but move on. I felt it affected Martha's journey quite a lot that he was always talking about Rose, which is completely understandable, because the Tenth Doctor and Rose had such a wonderful connection but the show has to propel forward back into adventure mode.

Videos

Lizo Mzimba's preview of The Snowmen is available to watch on the BBC News website. The BBC have also released an interview with Matt and Jenna as part of their Adventure Calendar.





FILTER: - Matt Smith - Animation - Series Specials - Press - Jenna-Louise Coleman - Series 7/33

The Snowmen: At Your Service!

Monday, 24 December 2012 - Reported by Chuck Foster
The latest teaser clip from the BBC features Vastra, Jenny and Dr Simeon ...


The Director speaks ...

Director Saul Metzstein was interviewed by the Scottish Daily Record, during which he discussed the new-look TARDIS and making a 360° pan around the interior:
It's the shot where you can ­really see that the TARDIS is bigger on the inside than it is on the outside ... Because of the shape of the set and the studio, it was pretty tricky to pull off, but visual effects are a lot better than they used to be. The biggest complication was giving Matt Smith enough time to acquaint himself with where all the dials and levers were. Obsessive Doctor Who fans, like [writer] Steven Moffat, are very particular about the continuity of which bits turn round when the TARDIS is flying, and what lights react to what. Personally I'm not so bothered.
Talking about the design of the eponymous Snowmen, he said:
The snowmen were pretty difficult to get right. The ones we started off with looked like Zippy from Rainbow, and you can't have non-scary, almost cute-looking monsters. We were very amused when we saw the John Lewis snowman advert – I guess we've made their evil cousins!




FILTER: - Online - Series Specials - Series 7/33

BFI: Doctor Who at 50 update

Sunday, 23 December 2012 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Watch the Eleven Doctors at the BFI during 2013! Image: BFI
BFI logo
Doctor Who at 50
As mentioned earlier this month, the BFI plan to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Doctor Who with special screenings each month next year in the lead-up to the Anniversary itself; the organisation has now announced details about the first quarter of 2013.

As previously mentioned, the season kicks off at the very beginning with William Hartnell's An Unearthly Child on 12th January; this will be followed on 9th February with Patrick Troughton tackling the Tomb of the Cybermen; then in March Jon Pertwee is up against The Master as The Mind of Evil is unveiled in newly restored colour! All stories are accompanied by a Q&A panel, though guests have yet to be announced.


Justin Johnson, BFI Programmer, said:
The BFI is very proud of our long relationship with both the BBC and the Doctor Who production team. We are delighted to be playing complete stories featuring each incarnation of The Doctor, supported by Q&As with special guests. As well as the TV work, we also plan to play newly digitally restored versions of the Peter Cushing films, courtesy of Studio Canal. This is the perfect opportunity for old fans and new to come and learn about the genesis of the show and its continuing jounrney.

Doctor Who's executive producer Caroline Skinner said:
To be doing this enormous and exciting project for the BFI is just a dream come true. We're delighted that in this 50th year of the show we have such brilliant support from the BFI for our celebration of Doctor Who's cultural heritage. Some of the stories we're going to show are thrilling, surprising, funny and just plain classic TV. Enjoy, everyone!

In November, the climax of the BFI's celebration will include a special preview of An Adventure in Space and Time , the drama written by Mark Gatiss exploring the personalities that brought the longest running sci-fi series to life.


The stories representing the other eight Doctors will be confirmed next year.





FILTER: - Special Events - UK - Jon Pertwee - William Hartnell - BFI - WHO50 - Patrick Troughton

The Snowmen: Don't Talk To Them ...

Saturday, 22 December 2012 - Reported by Chuck Foster
The BBC have released a new teaser clip for The Snowmen as today's festive treat from the Adventure Calendar:





FILTER: - Online - Series Specials - Series 7/33

The Snowmen: publicity roundup

Saturday, 22 December 2012 - Reported by Chuck Foster
A roundup of coverage for The Snowmen that has taken place in the past week or so - please note that what follows below includes some plot details that might be considered spoilers.

Interviews

Steven Moffat was a guest on the Simon Mayo Drivetime show on BBC Radio Two on Monday. Talking about Doctor Who's appeal on Christmas Day, he felt the show's accessibility as a "shared live viewing experience" was a great benefit:
... much more so with the Christmas one than with the others, yes, there's a big live audience for it - because, yeah, you watch it as a family. Sometimes people actually watch it later, because their family aren't there - people tend to watch it in groups, that's very true of Doctor Who.

I think Doctor Who is always a bit Christmassy, it's that kind of show, it always feels substantially madder than every other show, and we're always striving to make it an event - so you have to make Doctor Who even more so when it's Christmas Day. One thing I'd say I think it needs to be more accessible to new viewers, because more people are dragged in to watch Doctor Who on that day than on any other occasion it's on.
Talking about an initially melancholy Doctor in the episode, he explained:
What you need to remember is that the last time we saw the Doctor he had lost the Ponds - he lost Amy and Rory - he lost them to the Weeping Angels, and when you begin this story he's in a terrible place, he's in a right old grump, he's retired from saving the universe, he's having nothing to do with anyone, and although there's a building threat to humanity he's having none of it, he's just storming away being a sort of Scrooge.
The full interview is currently available to listen to via a BBC podcast (from 12:50) until Monday.

Ahead of the press screening on Tuesday evening, Matt Smith and Jenna-Louise Coleman popped into the BBC Radio One Breakfast Show hosted by Nick Grimshaw. The duo chatted about their recent trip to New York and Jenna's arrival in the show (1:36:45), and later answered listeners' questions (1:52:55, and a clip is available to watch via the BBC iPlayer and YouTube).

Matt later appeared on ITV1's This Morning (after the first ad break), hosted by Philip Schofield and Holly Willoughby - the first time he'd appeared on the show. He chatted about his inspirations for the character of the Doctor, the enthusiasm of fans, things he kept from the old TARDIS, and of course not really saying what to expect on Christmas Day! Enthusing about guest star Richard E Grant, he said:
He was born to be a Who villain, he pitches it on that perfect level and tone.

The end of the week was rounded off by an appearance by Matt on The Graham Norton Show, but although this was to promote the Christmas Special, as Matt pointed out:
As always, I can't tell you anything, this is the tragedy of the show I'm in is that you come on and you can't actually promote it!
Recorded last month, the show was still able to treat viewers to a brand new clip featuring the Doctor, Clara and Strax.

Norton mentioned that fellow guests Billy Connolly and Jennifer Saunders had once been suggested as potential Doctors, though the former said it wasn't true and the latter said she started the rumours herself!

Matt was also 'required' to kiss a member of the audience by other guest Dustin Hoffman, which the actor only reluctantly agreed to as his mum was watching! A clip of this exchange is available on YouTube and BBC iPlayer.

Matt Smith and Jenna-Louise Coleman on The Radio 1 Breakfast Show with Nick Grimshaw, 18 Dec 2012 Matt Smith on This Morning, 18 Dec 2012 Matt Smith on The Graham Norton Show, 21 Dec 2012

UK Press Screening

The press screening for the episode took place in the evening of 18th December, followed by a Q&A session with Steven Moffat, Matt Smith and Jenna-Louise Coleman, during which the adventure and the further adventures next year were discussed.

As seen in the trailer, the Doctor once again gets a firm kiss from his co-star, and speaking at the Q&A of their on-screen "relationship", Matt said:
I think always with this show and always with this relationship in this show, it will constantly evolve. And it should. And hopefully over the course of the next eight or nine episodes that we see subsequently to this it will evolve even further. We're excited about next year now and getting into that and actually going, "Well, now we know what we know about each other and the way we work and who we are and all the rest of it..." I kind of likened it, Steven, earlier, in an interview, to an arranged marriage. Not that I know what an arranged marriage is like. But it's like, "You're married, have chemistry." Do you know what I mean?
On the other hand, Jenna responded:
I likened it to a blind date. I felt like I was on a blind date... It's like putting two people together. Like, "Oh I know someone you'll really get on with." And then go in to save the world!

The Doctor (Matt Smith) with the new TARDIS interior. Photo: BBCThe new TARDIS interior was also discussed, with Steven explaining how it came about:
It was mainly saying to Michael Pickwoad (production designer), "What would you do with the TARDIS?" But we had a notion because I thought we'd been getting progressively whimsical with the interior of the TARDIS. And I started to think, "Well, why is that? It's not a magical place, it's actually a machine." So we did say 'machine' and actually, potentially, as you'll see more spectacularly later, quite a scary place sometimes. We make a lot of use of that. And it's also a lot easier to shoot, I have to say.”
 
Inevitably, the question of where the team would travel to in the TARDIS came up:
Matt: I'd do a few things. I’d go and pick up Frank Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe. I'd try and marry one of them. Get them to sing to me. And maybe one of them could do both. And then I'd go and see England win the World Cup in '66. And I'd go and visit some sort of Jurassic age, I think.

Jenna: I'd go back to ancient Egypt. I was watching a TV programme – where did the pyramids come from? I'd go find out where they came from. I'd go find out how they were built. And then other than that, maybe New York in the Twenties.

Steven: I'm a perfectly happy man. I'd go right here. I don't want to go anywhere. I'm having too much fun to leave. I'd be terrified. Wouldn't you?

With thanks to Ian Wylie for Q&A coverage - you can read his full report here.

"The Kiss"

The BBC have released a couple of publicity shots to "cherish" the moment(!):

The Doctor (Matt Smith) and Clara (Jenna-Louise Coleman). Photo: BBC The Doctor (Matt Smith) and Clara (Jenna-Louise Coleman). Photo: BBC

Media Coverage (United Kingdom)

Reporting on the preview, Catherine Gee of The Telegraph said:
For all its new features, this is an episode filled with knowing nods to please Who fans, including a reference drawn from elsewhere in the Moffat catalogue, and the return of some of the Doctor’s old friends in the shape of Strax, Vastra and Jenny. Dr Simeon's ominous warning that "winter is coming" also suggests that Moffat may be a Game of Thrones fan. . . . It's not quite as action-packed as previous specials but compared with the other sedate period Christmas Day offerings of Call the Midwife and Downton Abbey, or the impending apocalypse-free episodes of The Royle Family and Strictly Come Dancing, this festive instalment of the sci-fi series will give the post-dinner snoozers a much-needed boost.
Vicky Frost of The Guardian said:
New music, new titles, a fetching new costume, sleek new Tardis interior and, most of all, a new companion, make this year's festive Doctor Who special filled with surprises. . . . It is not as if the 60-minute Christmas special – which perhaps controversially comes sprinkled with a seasonal splash of romance – is unambitious: among the co-stars is Richard E Grant as the deliciously wicked Dr Simeon, a man dreaming of a white Christmas.
Jenna explained a little of her character to Neela Debnath from The Independent:
I think it's one of these things where she meets this guy that she's incredibly interested in and by and wants to know more but there's also something - he has answers that she wants. She wants answers. She's on her own mission. (Clara) is the kind of girl who lives by her own means, she doesn't need other people as much to get by, so she's a bit more of an equal. As soon as she meets him - and he's not the kind of guy that you meet every day - she's interested and wants to know who he is and where he's come from and she doesn't give up and follows that track.
Further coverage of the press screening can be found from the Daily Mail, Evening Standard and Western Mail.

Reviewing the episode, Jonathan Carley of What Culture said:
Put simply, The Snowmen makes the Christmas Special feel fresh again, so much so it may as well be vacuum packed and wrapped with foil. So the firm underpinning of a good script is there, and I can tell you this will reward repeat viewing afterwards to reassess the intricacies of the plot. I myself am looking forward to re-watching on Christmas day if my family can tolerate my smugness. But there is also plenty going on to keep you entertained if you're feeling quite relaxed about it.
Simon Brew of Den of Geek concluded:
The Snowmen certainly bodes very well for the year ahead. It’s a lower key story on the surface, perhaps, albeit an episode that proves once again Moffat's skill for introducing major new characters. It's also an excellent Christmas special, and quite a serious one. And whereas seasonal outings for Doctor Who have proven quite divisive in recent years, we suspect this one is going to have a lot more people on its side. It's very much worth your time.

The Telegraph interviewed Jenna-Louise Coleman while on set last month and chatted about her career leading up to becoming the latest Doctor Who sidekick. In addition, Digital Spy have conducted video interviews with Steven Moffat about writing his third Christmas Special and and how to entice a new audience to the show, and with Matt and Jenna chatting about the Special.

Other general media coverage of The Snowmen include: Daily Mail; Daily Mail(2); The Sun; Independent; Metro; Mirror; Daily Star, and Radio Times.

Media Coverage (United States)

The United States press had their own screening in New York earlier in the month. Alex Zalvin of MTV reported:
This is probably the second best Christmas episode ever after 2010’s superlative A Christmas Carol. Since the latter episode is probably my favourite episode of Who ever, that's certainly putting it in high company. The episode is laugh out loud funny, emotional, and more importantly, captures the spirit of the holidays.

There's a beautiful sequence about halfway through that might be one of the most magical, storybook creations the show has ever done, more on par with a stage play than a TV show, but by golly, it works.

Jenna-Louise Coleman is a brilliant, perfect addition to the cast. Her patter, delivery, and whole demeanor make her a female Matt Smith, and it's brilliant. She matches him line for line, move for move, and if you’re not in love with her by the end of the episode...well...you’ll be in love with her.
Other coverage of the press screening appeared in: Wall Street Journal; io9; Forbes; and Huffington Post.

At an interview held at the BBC America offices (reported by CNN), Jenna was quizzed about her experiences of entering the very public world of Doctor Who:
You see "it" everywhere and you're used to it, like I was used to seeing Matt's face all over the place. But, when I was auditioning, being sat on the Tube and you see the posters, and it was always like he was pointing at me. There's not very much time to analyze as you go. It is only now that I feel like I've just been playing with all my mates for the last couple of months, and then suddenly, I'm like, "but people are going to see this," you know?

"This" life is so exciting on a daily basis. Everything's so dramatic every day, and it's the end of the world every week. You're either running or there's a snow machine or rain machine, or you're in a harness and you're on wires. ... On an off day, I find that I get bored quickly, like, "Where's the Cybermen?"
Jenna also revealed that she had auditioned for the show before, and what her grandmother thought!
I auditioned for Amy's best mate in it, and was pretty close to getting the part, and my grandma was absolutely devastated I didn't. So, we came back around, and I don't think she can believe it, actually. It is quite surreal for her, and she's quite looking forward to meeting Matt.
As previously reported, Matt and Jenna also undertook a Q&A for BBC America's Doctor Who Tumblr, fielding questions from the social networking community.

With Doctor Who having made the cover of TV Guide this December, the magazine also spoke to the two stars about their first jobs, what they do in their free time, their favourite current and childhood television shows, awkward moments, and what stands out for them in the Christmas Special.

Entertainment Weekly discuss Doctor Who and The Snowmen in their latest InsideTV podcast. Other US-based coverage included: Miami Herald; Tulsa World; San-Antonio Express; and Winston-Salem Journal; Seattle Times.




FILTER: - Steven Moffat - Matt Smith - Series Specials - Press - Jenna-Louise Coleman - Series

Songtaran Carols

Friday, 21 December 2012 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Today's festive treat from the BBC Adventure Calendar is a selection of carols given a Sontaran makeover by Commander Strax...





FILTER: - Online - BBC

Worlds In Time Extends Its Reach

Friday, 21 December 2012 - Reported by John Bowman
The Doctor Who multi-player online social game Worlds In Time has now been made available on the Kongregate, Newgrounds.com, and Armor Games platforms.

Published by BBC Worldwide Digital Entertainment And Games and developed by Three Rings, it was launched earlier this year, with the game seeing players guided by the Doctor and working alone or uniting in missions against villains and iconic monsters such as the Weeping Angels, Cybermen, Daleks, Autons, Ood, and Zygons.

Robert Nashak, the executive vice-president for BBC Worldwide Digital Entertainment And Games, said:
We are excited to extend the game's reach to a wider audience and bring the beloved Doctor Who brand to more players. Distribution deals with companies like Newgrounds.com, Kongregate, and Armor Games are mutually beneficial for both parties, and provide players with an avenue to expand their gaming options.
More distribution deals are said to be in development.

Kongregate co-founder and chief executive officer Jim Greer said:
We are excited to showcase the first Doctor Who online game to the Kongregate gaming platform. Doctor Who: Worlds in Time combines elements of puzzle and strategy gaming with a deep story and diverse character base under the renowned Doctor Who brand. We are always looking to bring the best new and engaging free-to-play games to Kongregate, and Doctor Who: Worlds in Time definitely fits the bill.
Tom Fulp, the founder of Newgrounds.com, added:
Newgrounds.com serves as a creative outlet for games, movies, and art. It gives individuals a platform to showcase and share their content with the world. We are happy to expand our offerings and are excited to be able to offer Doctor Who: Worlds in Time to our community.

Ron Johnson
, the director of product development at Armor Games, commented:
Many of us at Armor Games are huge fans of the Doctor Who brand, and we're excited to be able to share our love of the Doctor by presenting Doctor Who: Worlds in Time to our players.
The game is updated continually and throughout the adventure players explore and interact with various characters and complete puzzles to move the game forward. There are a variety of puzzle types that players can choose from, and completing the puzzles also serves to charge various devices, such as the sonic screwdriver. Based on a player's puzzle-play preference and skills, they can be a guardian, technician, diplomat, or adventurer in the game.

It should be noted that Worlds In Time is an online game that takes place in a live, open social environment and allows for live chat between players. As such, it is restricted to people aged at least 13. In addition, it uses "micro-transactions" for players to buy "an enhanced experience".





FILTER: - Online - Games - BBC Worldwide

People Roundup

Friday, 21 December 2012 - (roundup compiled by John Bowman and Chuck Foster)
Toby Jones stars as Alfred Hitchock in a BBC Two drama about his relationship with the model and actress Tippi Hedren. The Girl, which airs on Wednesday 26th December at 9pm, also features Imelda Staunton as Hitchcock's wife, Alma, and Penelope Wilton as Peggy Robertson, who was his production assistant.

Peter Capaldi triumphed at the British Comedy Awards, winning the Best TV Comedy Actor gong for the role of Malcolm Tucker in The Thick of It. Among the other nominees he beat to the title was Hugh Bonneville. [BBC News, 13 Dec 2012]

Steven Moffat's first TV work, the teen drama Press Gang, will be one of the shows feted when ITV celebrates 30 years of children's television on the commercial channel. A one-hour documentary marking the 30th anniversary of Children's ITV - which was launched on 3rd January 1983 - will be shown on ITV1 on Saturday 29th December at 6.30pm, and between 9.25am and 6pm on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th January CITV (which started on 11th March 2006) will be showing a selection of its iconic shows, including the first and last episodes of Press Gang. Two episodes of Children's Ward - which was produced by Russell T Davies, who also wrote for it - are to be shown as well, as is an episode of Button Moon, whose theme music was co-composed by Peter Davison. [Radio Times, 18 Dec 2012]

Yasmin Paige returns as Beth Mitchell when the second series of BBC Three comedy Pramface begins its run of six episodes on Tuesday 8th January at 10pm.

The two-part BBC Four drama Spies of Warsaw - starring David Tennant - starts on Wednesday 9th January at 9pm. Set in 1937, it features Tennant as Colonel Jean-Francois Mercier, the French military attaché in Warsaw. With Hitler's shadow looming over mainland Europe, Mercier is grossly suspicious of the German military's intentions, but must juggle his formal duties at stifling diplomatic functions with the often death-defying realities of espionage. The drama also stars Burn Gorman as French bureaucrat Jourdain.

The Symphonic Spectacular in Sydney, Australia was hosted by Alex Kingston and Mark Williams, who were interviewed beforehand by local Breakfast show Today; the Sydney Opera House itself has provided a behind-the-scenes video featuring the presenters and composer Murray Gold. Meanwhile, Dudley Simpson was a special guest at the show on Wednesday - the classic series composer met up with his modern series counterpart Gold and conductor Ben Foster, and was also presented with a print of all eleven Doctors, celebrating his contribution to over 250 episodes of the series. [Dallas Jones/Doctor Who Club of Australia, 21 Dec 2012]

A variety of Who names have been nominated in the 2013 WhatsOnStage Awards: Billie Piper is up for The DIGITAL THEATRE Best Actress in a Play for The Effect; her husband Laurence Fox, alongside Arthur Darvill, Cian Barry, Jolyon Coy, Matthew Lewis and Lewis Reeves, are nominated for both the Best Play Revival and The IMAIL Best Ensemble Performance awards for Our Boys; Best Supporting Actress in a Play - Fenella Woolgar (Hedda Gabler) and Helen McCrory (The Last of the Haussmans); Best Supporting Actor in a Play - Adrian Scarborough (Hedda Gabler), Mark Gatiss (The Recruiting Officer) and Tim McInnerny (Scenes from an Execution); The STAR Best Actress in a Musical - Imelda Staunton (Sweeney Todd); The JO HUTCHISON INTERNATIONAL Best Solo Performance - Simon Callow (A Christmas Carol). Voting remains open until Thursday 31st January 2013.

While on the subject of award nominations, the writer Robert Shearman is in the running for the Short Story Collection Of The Year title in the This Is Horror Awards 2012 for his anthology Remember Why You Fear Me. Voting is open until 12.01am GMT on Friday 4th January 2013.

In Memoriam:

The newsreader Kenneth Kendall has died at the age of 88. In 1955, he achieved the distinction of becoming the BBC's first in-vision newsreader, and 11 years later he made a cameo appearance in Doctor Who, playing himself as a newsreader in episode 4 of the story The War Machines. He also had a cameo as a newsreader in the film 2001: A Space Odyssey. After leaving the world of news, Kendall moved to the Isle of Wight, where he ran an art gallery. [The Independent, 14 Dec 2012]

(roundup compiled by John Bowman and Chuck Foster)




FILTER: - Steven Moffat - Obituary - Russell T Davies - Billie Piper - David Tennant - Awards/Nominations

Daleks: 49 Years of Terror!

Friday, 21 December 2012 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Today marks the 49th anniversary of the first Dalek serial, with The Dead Planet airing at 5:15pm on Saturday 21st December 1963. Though the full design by Raymond Cusick would not be revealed until after Christmas, this episode ended with an iconic moment of Barbara's scream as she is menaced by an unknown 'something' . . .

Talking about this very first appearance, Steven Moffat - writer of their most recent adventure on screen, Asylum of the Daleks - said:
The whole nation convulsed when you saw a little bit of that sucker come onto the screen - brilliant, brilliant work all those years ago!
Doctor Who's lead writer reflects on the Daleks in a series of videos celebrating their iconic moments, presented on the BBC's Adventure Calendar throughout December: their first appearance in The Daleks, their size and settings in Evil of the Daleks, and their exciting return after a number of years in Day of the Daleks.


Daleks - Invasion Earth: 2012 AD!

Not just content with confronting us with a host of old and new variations during Asylum of the Daleks, the Doctor's most persistent adversary has also been 'terrorising' children and adults alike throughout the year at various local events - here is a selection of their many appearances:

23 May: Hackers in Boulder, Colorado, altered a road sign to warn of Daleks ahead! <a target="_blank" href="http://www.coloradodaily.com/ci_20689381/warning-daleks-ahead-boulder-road-sign">Colorado Daily</a>8 June: Davros is superseded by Lowestoft's Nathan Ward as Dalek creator ...  <a target="_blank" href="http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/bernard_matthews_youth_awards_winner_from_lowestoft_creates_fundraising_dalek_1_1404510">EDP24</a>21 July: Encouraging pupils to read over the summer <a target="_blank" href="http://www.dudleynews.co.uk/news/9821593.Children_s_summer_reading_challenge_launched/">Dudley News</a>23 July: Appearing at Heroes and Legends at Margam Castle <a target="_blank" href="http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/Daleks-Doctor-Heroes-Legends-park-event/story-16581680-detail/story.html">South Wales Evening Post</a>6 August: Helping to raise money for Great Western Air Ambulance at the Grand Pier, Weston-super-Mare <a target="_blank" href="http://www.thewestonmercury.co.uk/news/dr_who_s_nemeses_invade_grand_pier_for_fundraiser_1_1473166">Weston Mercury</a>6 August: Julian Vince's wish to immortalise them as a statue <a target="_blank" href="http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/local/wimbledonnews/9855725.Dalek_model_maker_calls_for_permanent_invasion_of_iconic_villains/">Wimbledon Guardian</a>12 August: Helping to raise money for charities in Norwich <a target="_blank" href="http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/news/dalek_doctor_who_and_predator_take_part_in_charity_mission_in_norwich_1_1479129">Norwich Evening News</a>31 August: A Dalek is found lurking in Cleeve Hill woodland <a target="_blank" href="http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/Mystery-Dr-Daleks-Cleeve-Hill/story-16797642-detail/story.html">Gloucestershire Echo</a>3 September: Friend reunited? Original Dalek director Christopher Barry at the Power: Re-Imagined event, Fareham <a target="_blank" href="http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/local/daleks-come-to-fareham-but-it-s-all-for-good-causes-1-4219109">Portsmouth News</a>24 September: Invading Cheltenham to collect money for the NSPCC <a target="_blank" href="http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/Exterminate-Daleks-invade-Cheltenham/story-16973044-detail/story.html">Gloucestershire Echo</a>25 September: On the loose at Alford's Grampian Transport Museum <a target="_blank" href="http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/2946812">Aberdeen Press and Journal</a>28 September: Collecting for Ovarian Cancer UK and KiDs in Westhoughton, Bolton <a target="_blank" href="http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/districtnews/districtatog/9955318.Dalek_drops_in_for_charity_collection/">Bolton News</a>28 September: A Dalek from the second movie came up for auction at Dickins Auctioneers’ Antiques and Collectables, Buckinghamshire <a target="_blank" href="http://www.buckinghamtoday.co.uk/news/local/dalek-invasion-at-auctioneers-1-4303582">Bicester Advertiser and Review</a>24 October: On the front line to keep Aldbourne tidy! <a target="_blank" href="http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/news/10004662.Extermination_to_keep_Aldbourne_village_tidy/">This is Wiltshire</a>29 October: Getting reacquainted with Steven Taylor, aka Peter Purves, at a Bury St Edmunds Exhibition <a target="_blank" href="http://www.eadt.co.uk/entertainment/gallery_doctor_who_s_tardis_lands_in_bury_st_edmunds_1_1673184">EADT</a>12 November: Supporting the Movie Buffs' Collectors' Fair  at Hull University <a target="_blank" href="http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/Invasion-movie-buffs/story-17299745-detail/story.html">This is Hull and East Striding</a>28 November: 'Celebrating' Rowde village shop’s third anniversary. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/news/10074698.Daleks_set_to_invide_Rowde_shop_celebrations/">This is Wiltshire</a>18 December: Raising funds for Marie Curie at Sainsbury's in Swindon. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/10114207.Customers____tears_of_laughter_as_Daleks_invade_supermarket_in_Swindon/">Swindon Advertiser</a>




FILTER: - Steven Moffat - Miscellaneous