Access All Areas - Doctor Who Special

Thursday, 23 November 2017 - Reported by Marcus
As the Twelfth Doctor approaches his final story, BBC Radio Two is to broadcast a two hour special documentary looking behind the scenes of Doctor Who.

Broadcast on Thursday 21 December at 8pm, the programme sees Jo Whiley gain exclusive access to the Doctor Who team. She catches up with the stars of the series on the set - including Pearl Mackie, David Bradley, Exec Producer Steven Moffat, and the Doctor himself, Peter Capaldi. She also hears from outgoing companion Matt Lucas, and digs into the BBC Doctor Who archive.

There will be stories from behind the scenes, including how Lucas approaches being recognised by fans; the radical ways in which Mackie's life has changed; Pele’s reaction to signing a Brazil shirt for the Doctor and how Doctor Who has always been with Peter Capaldi - from dressing up as a Dalek as a child to karaoke singalongs to The Killers (all in the name of getting into character).

Plus, Radio 2 listeners will find out which member of the team has a penchant for Chas and Dave

BBC Radio 2 can be heard worldwide via the BBC Radio iPlayer.




FILTER: - Documentary - Peter Capaldi - Radio

Doctor Who - Preview Tour of the North

Thursday, 23 November 2017 - Reported by Marcus
Twice Upon a Time: Mark Gatiss, Peter Capaldi, David Bradley (Credit: BBC)BBC North is offering fans the chance to watch this year's Christmas Doctor Who Episode, Twice Upon A Time at special preview screenings across the region.

Starting in Hartlepool and finishing just before the big day in Bradford, the Christmas tour will take in eight locations across northern England to spread a little festive fun throughout the region.

As well as Doctor Who, there will be an opportunity for comedy fans in two locations to see the first of three new episodes of cult favourite The League of Gentlemen. And in two cities, children will be able to get an exclusive preview of an animated version of the classic book The Highway Rat.

As well as a sneak peek of these hotly-anticipated shows, fans will also be able to pose for photos on the BBC’s red carpet and with props from the programmes.

Adrian Mills, General Manager of BBC North says
We can’t wait to bring this wonderful seasonal programming direct to our audiences in the North and we’re sure they’ll enjoy this exclusive BBC content.
Tickets will be available through a ballot which will be open from today for 10 days via the BBC Shows and Tours website. The ticket ballot will close on Sunday 3 December. Tickets will be allocated via a random draw with 45% going to local postcodes, 45% going to the surrounding county and 10% to the rest of the UK.

The Doctor Who Screenings will be as follows
  • Thursday 14 December - Hartlepool Town Hall - 7pm
  • Friday 15 December - The Guild Hall, York – 7pm
  • Saturday 16 December - Jubilee Church, Hull - 7pm & 8.30pm
  • Sunday 17 December = St Nicholas Cathedral, Newcastle - 7pm & 8.30pm
  • Monday 18 December - The Middlesbrough Empire - 7pm & 8.30pm
  • Tuesday 19 December - Dock 10, MediaCityUK, Salford – 7pm & 8.30pm
  • Wednesday 20 December - Durham School - 7pm & 8.30pm
  • Friday 22 December - Old Odeon, Bradford - 7pm & 8.30pm
Please note the last few moments of the episode will be kept as a surprise until the BBC One broadcast on Christmas Day.




FILTER: - Series Specials - Special Events

Rodney Bewes 1937-2017

Tuesday, 21 November 2017 - Reported by Marcus
The actor Rodney Bewes has died at the age of 79.

Rodney Bewes appeared in Doctor Who in 1984, playing Stien in the Fifth Doctor story Resurrection of the Daleks, but was best known to British audiences for playing Bob Ferris in 1960's sitcom The Likely Lads and its sequel Whatever Happened to The Likely Lads.

Rodney Bewes was born in 1937 in Morley, West Yorkshire. Childhood asthma kept him house-bound until the age of 12, but he achieved his ambition of becoming an actor, first appearing on stage at the age of 14. He studied for a time at RADA but dropped out.

In 1952 he made his television debut in Mystery at Mountcliffe Chase, a BBC Children's drama. He played Joe in The Pickwick Papers and appeared in supporting roles in series such as Dixon of Dock Green, Emergency-Ward 10 and Z Cars.

In 1964 he won the role with which he would make his name, the working class boy made good, Bob Ferris, in the sitcom The Likely Lads. The series, written by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, pitted Bewes up against James Bolam as Terry Collier. Twenty episodes were made, detailing the struggle of two working-class boys from the North East, trying to make sense of a changing world, while facing the usual temptations of beer football, and girls.

In 1966 the series ended and the actors moved on, but a reunion was on the cards and in 1973 the series returned, this time in colour and with the new title Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?. The series was a tremendous hit as viewers followed the sparing between Bob, trying to improve his lot by moving into a detached house and getting a job as an executive, and Terry, desperately trying to cling onto his working-class roots.

Part of the success of the series was the double act of Bewes and Bolam, whose on-screen chemistry was a masterclass of timing and pathos. But the deep friendship was a TV illusion and in reality, the two actors had a stormy relationship. An interview given by Bewes in 1976 in which he talked about Bolam and his wife created a rift that would never be healed. Bewes called his co-star to apologise after the piece was published, but Bolam hung up and never spoke to him again.

Other roles included Knave of Hearts in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Albert Courtnay in Albert! and Reg Last in Just Liz . In 1969 he spent a year as Basil Brush's sidekick Mr Rodney.

His agent announced his death earlier today
It is with great sadness that we confirm that our dear client, the much-loved actor Rodney Bewes, passed away this morning. Rodney was a true one-off. We will miss his charm and ready wit.
Rodney Bewes is survived by a daughter and three sons.




FILTER: - Classic Series - Obituary

Travers and Wells

Sunday, 19 November 2017 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Candy Jar Books have announced that the expected third volume of their novella series will be Travers and Wells, with the original title Day of the Intelligence being cancelled.

Travers and Wells (Credit: Candy Jar Books)Travers and Wells
Written by Robert Mammone
Cover by Richard Young

"For a time I believed that mankind had been swept out of existence, and that I stood there with my friend, Edward Travers, the last men left alive."

Edward Travers, pulled out of time by a mysterious force, finds himself on a hill with a young man called Herbert George Wells. Together the men travel across England, intent on discovering where they are; a world distinctly different from the one they know. And yet, for Edward Travers, it is one that seems vaguely familiar...

For strange, meteor-like objects have landed in the heart of England, and the inhabitants of Earth have found themselves victims of a terrible attack. A ruthless race of Martians, armed with heat rays and poisonous smoke, is intent on destroying everything that stands in its way.

Only things have not turned out the way Travers' expected, for this is not the war of the worlds HG Wells wrote about, but something much worse.

As the title suggests, this novella features Edward Travers teaming up with the grandfather of sci-fi, HG Wells in what may be the first in a series of adventures exploring the inspiration behind many of the Wells’ classics.

Range Editor, Andy Frankham-Allen explains:
This novella serves as a kind of back door pilot for a possible series. It’s all dependent on the reception the book receives, and whether or not there is enough interest in an occasional series with Travers and Wells at the helm. The original plan was for me to write a sequel to The War of the Worlds, but then word reached me of the Stephen Baxter sequel and it was clear that we’d not be able to compete with that, so, not wanting to waste all the research and notes, I hit upon the idea of turning the story into an alternative take on the classic novel, and utilising the Doctor Who connection with Wells that Glen McCoy created for his 1985 serial, Timelash. And so we worked out an arrangement with Glen and set the potential series up with, first, the end of Times Squared, and then a short story called Time and Again.

Due to scheduling conflicts, Andy handed over the writing duties to Robert Mammone, who previously wrote the short story, Eve of the Fomorians. First Robert wrote a kind of prologue, Time and Again, that was published into the first novella, The Life of Evans, before turning his attention to his own novella.

Robert says:
When Andy and I were chatting on Skype about the upcoming novellas it suddenly dawned on him we could set up the range with a prequel short story. I immediately said yes and then knuckled down to getting the ideas, themes and plot straight. I didn’t want the story to be a direct sequel to Timelash, but I did want to take elements from that story as a way of looking at how those who assume authority after toppling a dictatorship can end up aping some of the actions of those overthrown.

I jumped at the chance to write this first story in the series. After I sent off the email saying yes, it suddenly hit me that I would be dealing with one of science fiction’s foundational texts. Some days later, when the shock had worn off, I began my research. Of course re-reading The War of the Worlds was a must, but also an early Wells short story called The Crystal Egg as it related in part to the story I was crafting. Jeff Wayne’s The War of the Worlds also helped inspire me, especially during some of the very late night writing sessions.

In writing the novella I drew inspiration from images of the Blitz – particularly St Paul’s wreathed in smoke. Given the events I describe in my story, it seemed appropriate that I pay homage to another, more terrible invasion. There are also hints and nods to Wells’ other works, and I weave in real world events from the period the original was written in, as I find that approach adds flavour to the reading experience. Andy was a great sounding board in helping the plot come together, and his editing skills and input helped shape the novella.

The cover is by regular artist Richard Young, who was responsible for all the novella covers so far. It features a younger Travers and Wells, as well as Richard’s own take on the infamous Martian war machine. Richard says:
I was over the moon to be doing the cover for Travers & Wells. I treated this slightly differently than the previous two novellas, in that I wanted something that would had a film poster quality to it. In fact there is a version of the artwork knocking around that has been put together as if it was a film poster.



Travers & Wells is part of the three novella bundle, and also available to pre-order separately. Customers who pre-ordered the three-novella bundle will automatically receive Travers & Wells upon release. Only available directly from Candy Jar Books or from the Lethbridge-Stewart website.




FILTER: - Books - Candy Jar Books - Lethbridge-Stewart

Twice Upon A Time - Preview

Friday, 17 November 2017 - Reported by Marcus
The BBC has released a preview of this year's Christmas Special, Twice Upon A Time

The First Doctor Enters The Twelfth Doctor's TARDIS




FILTER: - First Doctor - Series Specials - Twelfth Doctor

New Twelfth Doctor Comic

Wednesday, 15 November 2017 - Reported by Marcus
This week sees the release of Doctor Who: Twelfth Doctor Year Three #9 from Titan - a brand-new Tardis ride featuring The Doctor, Bill, and Nardole.

Twelfth Doctor Year Three #9

Writer: Richard Dinnick
Artist: Pasquale Qualano
Cover A: Adam Caldwell ​Cover B: Photo

All new adventure begins for the Twelfth Doctor, Bill and Nardole! Celebrate the most recent TARDIS team in all its glory!
Doctor Who News - Cover A (Credit: Titan )Doctor Who News - Cover B (Credit: Titan )Doctor Who News - Page 1 (Credit: Titan )Doctor Who News - Page 2 (Credit: Titan )Doctor Who News - Page 3 (Credit: Titan )Doctor Who News - Page 4 (Credit: Titan )





FILTER: - Comics - Twelfth Doctor

Keith Barron 1934-2017

Wednesday, 15 November 2017 - Reported by Marcus
The actor Keith Barron has died at the age of 83.

Keith Barron played the character Striker, one of the Eternals in the 1983 Fifth Doctor story Enlightenment. He is best known for playing David Pearce in the 1980s Yorkshire Television sitcom Duty-Free.

Kethe Baron was born in Mexborough, South Yorkshire in 1934. His career started at the Sheffield Repertory Theatre, where he also met his wife, Mary a stage designer.

His television career began in the early 1960's when he played a number of small roles before playing Detective Sergeant Swift in the Granada TV series The Odd Man and its spin-off It's Dark Outside.

His main break came in 1965 when he took the title role in two Wednesday plays, written by Dennis Potter, Stand Up, Nigel Barton and Vote, Vote, Vote for Nigel Barton, which detailed the character's journey from his childhood in a small mining community to winning a scholarship for Oxford and eventually becoming an MP.

In 1967 he played Jim Dixon in BBC Two's The Further Adventures of Lucky Jim, a comedy set in the swinging student world in London. He appeared in Jackanory, A Family at War, Love Story and No Strings. In 1974 we made a memorable appearance in Upstairs Downstairs as Gregory Wilmot, a love interest for Jean Marsh's Rose.

Many other roles followed and in 1979 he played Tim Hart in Telford's Change alongside Peter Barkworth. The same year he appeared in the ITV drama Prince Regent as Whig statesman Charles James Fox.

In 1983 he was asked at short notice to take on his one Doctor Who role, as Striker in Enlightenment. The role was originally to be played by Peter Sallis, who had to drop out when industrial action delayed production.

He played the Narator in West Country Tales and Daniel Ford in Leaving, before taking on the role that he is probably best known for, playing David Pearce in Duty Free.

Other roles included parts in Haggard, Take Me Home, Take Me Home, Room at the Bottom, Late Expectations, The Good Guys, All Night Long, Take Me, NCS Manhunt, Where the Heart Is, Dead Man Weds, The Chase, Law & Order: UK, DCI Banks and Casualty. He had a regular role in the soap Coronation Street playing George Trench.

Barron is survived by his wife, Mary, to whom he was married for 58 years, and his son, Jamie, also an actor.




FILTER: - Classic Series - Obituary

Doctor Who Magazine - Issue 519

Wednesday, 15 November 2017 - Reported by Marcus
Doctor Who Magazine - 519 (Credit: Panini)Issue 519 of Doctor Who Magazine has an exclusive interview with the new first doctor, David Bradley.

Four years ago he played William Hartnell in BBC Two’s An Adventure in Space and Time. Now David Bradley is returning as the First Doctor himself for this year’s Christmas Special Twice Upon a Time...
I was playing the guy who was playing the Doctor, but now I’m the Doctor... It’s absolutely thrilling.
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE…
  • FRIGHT KNIGHT
  • Sir Derek Jacobi talks to DWM about bringing back his version of the Master for Big Finish’s new series of audio adventures.
  • DEDICATED FOLLOWERS
  • DWM meets Jared Garfield and Lily Travers, the actors playing Ben and Polly in Twice Upon a Time.
  • BEN ZEN
  • In a previously unpublished interview from 1997, Michael Craze reflects on the time he spent playing Ben Jackson in Doctor Who from 1966 to 1967.
  • DOC MARTIN
  • In what turned out to be his final interview, Trevor Martin discusses playing the Doctor in the stage play Seven Keys to Doomsday. Elsewhere in this issue DWM pays tribute to his long career.
  • DRESSING THE DOCTOR
  • Costume designer Hayley Nebauer explains how she created the First Doctor’s 2017 look.
  • ANNUAL REPORT
  • BBC Audio is reviving stories from the Doctor Who annuals. Readers Peter Purves and Matthew Waterhouse are in the studio...
  • 54 FIRST DATES
  • What’s so special about the 23rd of November? And what else has happened on Doctor Who’s big day? DWM investigates...
  • THE PHANTOM PIPER
  • A brand-new comic strip adventure for the Doctor and Bill in part one of The Phantom Piper, written by Scott Gray and illustrated by Martin Geraghty.
  • THE TIME TEAM
  • The Time Team continues its mission to watch every episode of Doctor Who with 2011’s The Almost People.
  • THE FACT OF FICTION
  • Uncovering the details hidden in the 2007 episode The Lazarus Experiment.
  • THE BLOGS OF DOOM
  • DWM’s brand-new column begins...
PLUS! Previews, book and audio reviews, news, prize-winning competitions and more.

Doctor Who Magazine 519 is on sale from Thursday 16 November, price £5.99.




FILTER: - DWM - First Doctor

Australian cinema outing for Twice Upon a Time

Tuesday, 14 November 2017 - Reported by Chuck Foster
This Christmas will see the Doctor Who Christmas Special shown in cinemas around Australia on Boxing Day:

Twice Upon A Time in Australian Cinemas (Credit: BBC Worldwide/Sharmill Films)BBC Worldwide Australia and New Zealand and Sharmill Films are giving Doctor Who fans a special gift this Christmas with an event screening of this year’s Christmas Special Doctor Who: Twice Upon a Time. The epic finale to the Peter Capaldi era of Doctor Who will be coming to Australian cinemas on Boxing Day, featuring the return of Pearl Mackie and special guests Mark Gatiss (Sherlock) and David Bradley (Game of Thrones). The event will also introduce the Thirteenth Doctor, played by Jodie Whittaker (Broadchurch), who is the first woman to take on the role.

The cinema event will also feature two exclusive bonus pieces, taking audiences behind the scenes to the filming of this holiday special and celebrating the tenures of Peter Capaldi as the Doctor and Steven Moffat as showrunner and lead writer.

Fans throughout Australia will be able to enjoy the event in select cinemas through Sharmill Films. Information on participating cinemas and purchasing tickets for Doctor Who: Twice Upon a Time can be found here.

Louise Hill, Live Entertainment Executive, BBC Worldwide ANZ, said:
Doctor Who fans love watching the show on the big screen and with Peter Capaldi regenerating into the first female Doctor, this promises to be an iconic episode.

Jacinta Palmer, Marketing Manager of Sharmill Films, said:
There’s nothing quite like the big screen experience, and we’re thrilled to give fans the opportunity to bid farewell to the fantastic Peter Capaldi in cinemas nationally, and to usher in Jodie Whittaker’s hugely anticipated debut as the 13th Doctor.

As well as this great chance for fans to come together and watch Doctor Who: Twice Upon a Time on the big screen, the episode will also be available on ABC iview immediately after the UK broadcast and will air on ABC at 7.30pm December 26th. Straight afterwards fans can join Rove and his guests for a special regeneration episode of WHOVIANS, 8.30pm ABC COMEDY.





FILTER: - Australia - BBC Worldwide - Cinema - Series Specials

The Essential Doctor Who: Time Travel

Sunday, 12 November 2017 - Reported by Marcus
The Essential Doctor Who: Time Travel (Credit: Panini)The latest issue of The Essential Doctor Who traces the development of time travel in the series, describing the rules that were laid down – and subsequently revised – by the series’ writers and producers.

The Doctor has always challenged the linear conception of time. Since his television voyage began in 1963, the TARDIS has travelled backwards, forwards and even sideways through the mysterious Vortex.

Highlights of the all-new articles include:
  • Frankenstein vs the Daleks – a look at Terry Nation’s first draft of The Chase
  • Original Evil – David Whitaker’s story treatment for The Evil of the Daleks
  • The Gamble With Time – the complex pre-production of City of Death
  • Creating Angels – a visit to the churchyard that helped to inspire the Weeping Angels
  • River’s Run – unraveling the complex chronology of River Song’s relationship with the Doctor
This 116-page bookazine also includes guides to time-traveling stories such as The Ark, Mawdryn Undead, A Christmas Carol and Listen, along with exclusive interviews and numerous rare images.

Editor Marcus Hearn says:
This is a fresh take on a vast and potentially challenging subject. Everyone in this issue has done a great job, coming up with new facts and theories about stories I thought I knew inside out. If you’ve ever wanted to know more about the Blinovitch Limitation Effect or the Bootstrap Paradox, then look no further!
The Essential Doctor Who: Time Travel is on sale now price £9.99.




FILTER: - DWM