The Day of The Doctor: BBC broadcasts extended trailer

Saturday, 9 November 2013 - Reported by Chuck Foster
An extended trailer for The Day of the Doctor was broadcast on BBC One tonight, airing between Strictly Come Dancing and Atlantis at around 8:00pm.





FILTER: - UK - WHO50 - BBC

Spot the TARDIS!

Saturday, 9 November 2013 - Reported by Chuck Foster
As Doctor Who begins to 'take over' television in the final fortnight before the 50th Anniversary weekend, viewers can have fun watching out for 'cameo' appearances in other BBC One programmes, for example the TARDIS parked innocuously on the desk during The Graham Norton Show on last night.

Spot the TARDIS: Graham Norton Show (9 Nov 2013) (Credit: BBC)

See how many you can spot!
(note: Chris Johnson's desk on the CBBC programme links does not count!)


Graham Norton will serve up a more substantial slice of Doctor Who on the 22nd November when he hosts two Doctors on his sofa: both Matt Smith and David Tennant will be guests on the show to promote The Day of The Doctor broadcast the following day. Other guests on the show will be Emma Thompson, Robbie Williams and Jimmy Carr.

The programme will also be shown on BBC America on the 23rd November from 10:00pm.




FILTER: - Matt Smith - David Tennant - WHO50

The Day of the Doctor: first full trailer

Saturday, 9 November 2013 - Reported by Chuck Foster
The BBC have now released the first full trailer for Doctor Who's 50th Anniversary story, The Day of the Doctor:




The official BBC website also reports that a second trailer will be released tomorrow (Sunday); this trailer has been seen in various forms at industry events, but will now be presented in its finished form, complete with special effects.




FILTER: - Day of the Doctor - WHO50

BBC Shop reveals its exclusive Web of Fear T-Shirt

Saturday, 9 November 2013 - Reported by Chuck Foster
The BBC Shop has unveiled their exclusive t-shirt to celebrate the recovery of The Web of Fear, available to pre-order online; both it and the design for The Enemy of the World can be purchased individually or as a bundle with their respective story's limited edition DVD release.

The Web of Fear

The Web Of Fear - T-Shirt (Credit: BBC Shop)
The Enemy of the World

The Enemy of the World - T-Shirt (Credit: BBC Shop)




FILTER: - Merchandise

Doctor Who Live: The Afterparty

Friday, 8 November 2013 - Reported by Marcus

BBC Three has announced it will host a celebration show, Doctor Who Live: The Afterparty directly after the BBC One screening of The Day of the Doctor.

No details are yet available on the content or the guests on the programme.




FILTER: - Doctor Who - Documentary - UK - WHO50

SPACE to host live "After The Day Of The Doctor" InnerSPACE special

Friday, 8 November 2013 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Canadian broadcaster SPACE has announced details of programming on the 23rd November to coincide with the simulcast of The Day of The Doctor:

The time has come for fans across the world to celebrate 50-years of Dalek-dodging, hair-raising, timey-wimey adventures. Space announced today that the must-see 50th Anniversary DOCTOR WHO episode THE DAY OF THE DOCTOR will air at 2:50 p.m. ET on Saturday, Nov. 23. All 75 minutes of the highly-anticipated special, will air commercial-free on Space in a worldwide simulcast. THE DAY OF THE DOCTOR sees current Doctor (Matt Smith) teaming up with his predecessor, the tenth Doctor, (David Tennant, BROADCHURCH), and a mysterious incarnation of the Time Lord (John Hurt, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy), as they embark on their greatest adventure across space and time. During the broadcast, Space is also going to reveal exciting information about its hit original series ORPHAN BLACK, and give viewers a sneak peek at its hotly-anticipated original series, BITTEN.

Throughout the day, INNERSPACE hosts Ajay Fry, Morgan Hoffman, and Teddy Wilson count down to the special with live hits. Immediately following THE DAY OF THE DOCTOR, the trio presents a rare weekend edition of INNERSPACE with AFTER THE DAY OF THE DOCTOR: INNERSPACE LIVE. Featuring special guests and a live studio audience of diehards, Ajay, Morgan, and Teddy co-host the live-to-air broadcast from inside the TARDIS (aka Space’s Toronto headquarters), recapping highlights from the special. Before the big day, Canadian Whovians can get reacquainted with the history of this beloved series with AN ADVENTURE IN SPACE AND TIME on Friday, Nov. 22 at 9 p.m. ET. The special one-hour docu-drama travels back in time to 1963 to reveal how the series was first brought to the screen.




FILTER: - Canada - Day of the Doctor - WHO50

The Day of the Doctor: teaser trailer

Friday, 8 November 2013 - Reported by Chuck Foster
The BBC have released a teaser trailer for the forthcoming 50th Anniversary Special, The Day of The Doctor, via their YouTube channel.





FILTER: - Day of the Doctor - WHO50

BBC America confirm a week of celebration for Doctor Who

Friday, 8 November 2013 - Reported by Chuck Foster
BBC America have confirmed their plans to celebrate the forthcoming 50th Anniversary weekend with dedicated programming for Doctor Who commencing the week before the The Day of The Doctor premiere.

The Day of the Doctor poster (Credit: BBC America)BBC AMERICA HOSTS DOCTOR WHO 50th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION IN NOVEMBER

BBC AMERICA is the #1 destination in the U.S. for a year-long celebration of the 50th anniversary of global phenomenon Doctor Who. On November 23, 1963, a Time Lord known as the Doctor landed on the BBC’s airwaves, forever changing storytelling on television and how the world viewed the inside of a British police box. In honoring the legacy of the longest-running and most successful sci-fi series in history, BBC AMERICA presents new programming dedicated to the iconic series, culminating in a groundbreaking television event – the global simulcast to more than 75 countries of Doctor Who’s 50th anniversary special, Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor on November 23. Written by lead writer and executive producer Steven Moffat (Sherlock), the special stars the Eleventh Doctor, Matt Smith (How to Catch a Monster), the Tenth Doctor, David Tennant (Broadchurch), companion Jenna Coleman (Dancing on the Edge), with Billie Piper (Secret Diary of a Call Girl) and John Hurt (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Alien). The global simulcast will air Saturday, November 23 at 2:50pm ET. BBC AMERICA will encore the special in primetime at 7:00pm ET with exclusive Inside Look interviews with Matt Smith and David Tennant.

Announced today, BBC AMERICA will present a week-long Doctor Who Takeover starting Monday, November 18, at 9:00am ET with marathons of favorite Doctors leading into new specials including a look into the science behind the iconic series with rock star-turned-physicist Professor Brian Cox (Wonders of the Universe, Wonders of the Solar System). The primetime specials will roll out throughout the week with Doctor Who: Tales from the TARDIS premiering Monday, November 18, 9:00pm ET followed by The Science of Doctor Who with Brian Cox at 10:00pm ET, Doctor Who Explained on Friday, November 22, 8:00pm ET, and a look back at Matt Smith’s time on the iconic series, Doctor Who: The Doctors Revisited – The Eleventh Doctor on Sunday, November 24, 8:00pm ET.

In addition, BBC AMERICA will premiere the new film An Adventure in Space and Time on Friday, November 22, 9:00pm ET. From Sherlock co-creator Mark Gatiss and directed by Terry McDonough (Breaking Bad), the film starring David Bradley (Game of Thrones, Broadchurch), Jessica Raine (Call the Midwife), Sacha Dhawan (After Earth) and Brian Cox (The Bourne Identity, X2: X-Men United) tells the story of the genesis of Doctor Who and the unlikely production team behind the series.

Doctor Who Takeover Schedule


MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18

Doctor Who: The Doctors Revisited Marathon – 9:00am – 9:00pm ET
The First through Tenth Doctor

U.S. Premiere: Doctor Who: Tales from the TARDIS – 9:00 –10:00pm ET
An all-new special, Doctor Who: Tales from the TARDIS, features the series’ actors and producers sharing their experiences and memories of the world’s longest-running sci-fi show. The special features exclusive interviews with principal cast members from the show’s 50-year history, including actors who have played the Doctor: Matt Smith, David Tennant, Tom Baker, and Peter Davison, actors who have played companions: Jenna Coleman, Karen Gillan, Freema Agyeman, and William Russell, as well as the current lead writer and executive producer Steven Moffat. The discussion includes how the actors got cast, how the roles changed their lives, how a ‘regeneration’ is recorded, and how filming the show in the 60's compares to today.

U.S. Premiere: The Science of Doctor Who with Brian Cox – 10:00–11:00pm ET
A former rock star and Britain’s popular TV physicist, Professor Brian Cox explores the universe of the world’s favorite Time Lord when he takes the audience on a journey into the wonderful universe of Doctor Who, with the help of celebrity guests. In this exclusively recorded special from the lecture theatre of the Royal Institution of Great Britain, Brian reveals the science behind the spectacle and explains the physics that allows Doctor Who to travel through space and time. Fun, but filled with real science, it’s a special night for Who fans and anyone with a thirst for understanding.


TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19

Doctor Who – The Ninth Doctor Marathon – 10:00am –11:00pm ET


WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20

Doctor Who – The Tenth Doctor Marathon – 2:00am –11:00pm ET


THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21

Doctor Who – The Eleventh Doctor Marathon Part I – 9:00am – 11:00pm ET


FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22

Doctor Who – The Eleventh Doctor Marathon Part 2 – 9:00am – 8:00pm ET

U.S. Premiere: Doctor Who Explained – 8:00pm – 9:00pm ET
An all-new special, Doctor Who Explained, explores the mysterious and two-hearted alien who is the Doctor. Through exclusive interviews with principal cast members from the show’s 50-year history, including actors who have played the Doctor: Matt Smith, David Tennant, Peter Davison, and Tom Baker as well as actors who have played companions: Jenna Coleman, Karen Gillan, and Freema Agyeman, viewers get an insight to what happens behind-the-scenes of the award-winning sci-fi show.

U.S. Premiere: An Adventure in Space and Time – 9:00pm ET
What do you get when you mix C.S. Lewis with H.G. Wells, and sprinkle in a bit of Father Christmas? An alien Time Lord exploring space and time in a Police Box spaceship called the “TARDIS” (Time And Relative Dimension in Space). Written by Mark Gatiss, the BBC AMERICA co-production, the film stars David Bradley (the First Doctor, William Hartnell), Brian Cox (BBC Head of Drama, Sydney Newman), Jessica Raine (Producer, Verity Lambert) and Sacha Dhawan (Director, Waris Hussein). An unlikely trio of misfits set out to create a genre series that all ages would love. William ‘Bill’ Hartnell, displeased with his career, was presented with a chance to break out of the hard-man roles he’d become known for. And with the instincts of first time producer, Verity Lambert and first time director, Waris Hussein, the Doctor was born. As the success of the show grew, William went from unhappy curmudgeon to beloved television star who relished his career resurgence and found a new lease on life. But all good things come to an end. How will Bill face leaving behind the part that has made him a hero to millions of children? And can the show survive without him? Journey back fifty years through space and time to witness the exciting beginning and untimely end of the First Doctor in this touching drama.


SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23

Doctor Who – The Eleventh Doctor Marathon Part 3 – 1:00am – 2:00pm ET

World Premiere: Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor – Global Simulcast – 2:50pm ET
The centerpiece of BBC AMERICA’s celebrations is the global simulcast of Doctor Who’s 50th Anniversary special, Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor, written by Steven Moffat. The Doctors (Matt Smith and David Tennant) embark on their greatest adventure across space and time. In 2013, something terrible is awakening in London’s National Gallery; in 1562, a murderous plot is afoot in Elizabethan England; and somewhere in space an ancient battle reaches its devastating conclusion. All of reality is at stake as the Doctor’s own dangerous past comes back to haunt him. Starring Matt Smith, David Tennant, Jenna Coleman, with Billie Piper and John Hurt. Last seen as the Doctor on January 1, 2010, this will be the first time David Tennant has reprised his role as the Tenth Doctor. During his reign as the Time Lord, Tennant appeared in three seasons as well as several specials. He was first revealed as the Doctor in the 2005 season finale, The Parting of the Ways. Meanwhile Billie Piper, who played companion Rose Tyler for two seasons following the reboot in 2005, will appear in the show for the first time since featuring in David Tennant’s last episode, The End of Time in 2010. The special is directed by Nick Hurran, executive produced by Steven Moffat, Faith Penhale and produced by Marcus Wilson.

Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor encore primetime broadcast – 7:00pm ET.
BBC AMERICA will premiere exclusive Inside Look interviews with Matt Smith and David Tennant during the broadcast. The special will be followed by the premiere of new fantasy-adventure series Atlantis at 9:00pm ET.

U.S. Premiere: The Graham Norton Show with guests Matt Smith and David Tennant – 10:00pm ET
Doctor Who stars Matt Smith and David Tennant make their first appearance together on BBC AMERICA’s hit talk show The Graham Norton Show. Emma Thompson, singer Robbie Williams and comedian Jimmy Carr will also be guests.


SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 24

Doctor Who – Matt Smith Countdown – 9:00am – 8:00pm ET
BBC AMERICA counts down the top 11 episodes from the Eleventh Doctor, Matt Smith, as voted on by fans.

U.S. Premiere: Doctor Who: The Doctors Revisited –The Eleventh Doctor – 8:00pm –10:30pm ET
BBC AMERICA celebrates the Eleventh Doctor, Matt Smith, in a new special of Doctor Who: The Doctors Revisited. Matt Smith first stepped into the TARDIS in 2010 and, after starring in the 50th Anniversary Special on November 23, will regenerate in the Christmas special. The Doctors Revisited begins with Matt Smith, Jenna Coleman (companion Clara Oswald), Karen Gillan (companion Amy Pond), Arthur Darvill (companion Rory Williams), lead writer and executive producer Steven Moffat, among others, examining the human side of this Doctor and taking a look at how his extraordinarily long life has affected him. The special is followed by the Eleventh Doctor two-part story, The Impossible Astronaut and Day of the Moon, in which a strange summons reunites the Doctor, Amy (Karen Gillan), Rory (Arthur Darvill) and River (Alex Kingston) in the middle of the Utah desert and unveils a terrible secret the Doctor's friends must never reveal to him. These were the first Doctor Who episodes to be filmed in the U.S.




FILTER: - WHO50

Day of the Doctor UK broadcast time announced

Friday, 8 November 2013 - Reported by John Bowman
The Day of the Doctor promotional poster (Credit: BBC/Adrian Rogers)Doctor Who's 50th-anniversary episode The Day of the Doctor will air on BBC One at 7.50pm on Saturday 23rd November.

The time was confirmed just over half an hour ago - at 2.34pm GMT - by the BBC One Facebook page.

This now finalises things for the global simulcast and cinema screenings and means, for example, that it will start at 11.50am the same day in Los Angeles and at 8.50am the next day in Auckland.

UPDATE - 4.35pm GMT: BBC America has since confirmed that it will be showing the episode at 2.50pm ET on 23rd November, and the Canadian channel Space has confirmed that its commercial-free simulcast will also begin at 2.50pm ET that day.




FILTER: - Canada - USA - UK - Day of the Doctor - WHO50 - BBC

National Media Museum exhibition details revealed

Friday, 8 November 2013 - Reported by John Bowman
The National Media Museum in Bradford has finalised details of its free exhibition showcasing Doctor Who fans' devotion to the series over its 50 years.

Following an appeal in the summer for items and stories, hundreds of personal objects were offered by members of the public for Doctor Who and Me: 50 Years of Doctor Who Fans, which explores what it means to be a devotee of the show in its 50th-anniversary year, bringing together items that people around the world have collected, created, drawn, assembled, and bought over the past half-century.

It resulted in hundreds of offers, and exhibition curator Toni Booth said:
Over the past few weeks it has become very apparent that the influence of the Doctor extends into many parts of people's lives - I have heard about marriage proposals at a Doctor Who exhibition in Blackpool and another fan confessing to me that in life, "I often ask myself: WWTDD?" (What would the Doctor do?). The stories and objects in the exhibition will show just how intertwined into their everyday lives the Doctor has become for so many people.

We have visited a number of superfans at home and they have simply incredible collections of Doctor Who-related objects. We hope to give a real insight into this ultra-dedicated few, as well as display the objects that mean the most to them from the hundreds of items they have amassed.
In addition to a vast array of objects loaned from the public, the exhibition includes fans' stories and experiences relating just how much they love Doctor Who and why, how they have organised themselves, produced fanzines, attended conventions around the world, and now make use of the internet and social media to discuss the programme.

Among the objects on display are the following:
  • A model TARDIS made in 1978/9 by then schoolboy Mike Tucker for his own amateur movie - he went on to become a visual effects assistant on the show during the classic era and model unit supervisor when the programme returned
  • Rare, original artefacts provided by David J Howe and Colin Young, including the Servo Robot prop from the 1968 adventure The Wheel in Space, artwork from Doctor Who annuals and Target novels (including art by David McAllister and Andrew Skilleter), and authentic 1970s Palitoy and Louis Marx toys
  • Some of fan modelling pioneer Julian Vince's originals, including his first Dalek
  • Several full-size replicas from the show, including K-9, Daleks, the TARDIS, Cybermen, and various monster masks
  • A very rare 1960s Dalek Oracle board game
  • A newly-uncovered poster of Tom Baker and scarf demonstrating semaphore
  • A postcard from the BBC sent to a young fan in 1975 outlining the instructions to knit a Tom Baker scarf - the resulting scarf, knitted by the fan's mum, is also on display
  • Memorabilia from the Longleat 20th-anniversary event, including tickets and a programme
  • 1970s/80s collector cards from Typhoo Tea and Weetabix
  • An original script from Dragonfire
In a change to the original plan, the display will now run from Saturday 23rd November to Sunday 9th February, and the museum - which also has free entry - has organised a launch party for Friday 22nd November to mark both the exhibition and the show's 50th anniversary. Starting at 7.30pm and open to all, this free event will give people the chance to have a preview of the exhibition and will also have entertainment in the form of performance poetry from Rod Tame, music, and a flash open-mic event for attendees. There is no need to book for the party - just turn up.

Anyone wanting to take part in the open-mic event, in which they can read some of their fan fiction or perform a song or a poem - basically, anything family-friendly that has been inspired by Doctor Who - must let the museum know by e-mailing Sophie Loftus at sophie.loftus@nationalmediamuseum.org.uk by no later than Sunday 17th November. Names will be selected at random and people notified in advance if they have a slot. The open-mic pieces should last no more than three minutes.




FILTER: - Special Events - UK - Exhibitions - WHO50