The Complete Ninth Series: Blu-ray/DVD details announced

Monday, 21 December 2015 - Reported by Chuck Foster

BBC Worldwide have released details for the forthcoming on The Complete Ninth Series, due out in the United Kingdom on Blu-ray/DVD from 7th March 2016 and in North America from 5th April 2016.

The Complete Ninth Series (DVD) (Credit: BBC Worldwide)

The Complete Ninth Series (Blu-ray) (Credit: BBC Worldwide)

Doctor Who: The Complete Ninth Series
Released 7th March 2016 (UK), 5th April (USA/Canada)

Peter Capaldi returns as the Doctor alongside Jenna Coleman with guests including Game of Thrones’ Maisie Williams. Now that the Doctor and Clara have established a dynamic as a partnership of equals, they’re relishing the fun and thrills that all of space and time has to offer. Tangling with ghosts, Vikings and the ultimate evil of the Daleks, they embark on their biggest adventures yet. Missy is back to plague the Doctor once more, the Zygons inspire fear as they shape-shift into human clones, and a new arrival moves in cosmic way.

The DVD and Blu-ray contains all twelve episodes from Peter Capaldi’s second series in the role, with guest star’s Maisie Williams and Rufus Hound as well as the brilliant Missy (played by Michelle Gomez). The Complete Boxset also contains the 2014 Christmas Special, Last Christmas and this year’s highly anticipated The Husbands of River Song and more than four hours’ worth of VAM, including:

DVD Commentaries:

Under the Lake and Before the Flood: actor Sophie Stone, writer Toby Whithouse, producer Derek Ritchie
The Woman Who Lived: actor Maisie Williams, producer Derek Ritchie
Sleep No More: actor Reece Shearsmith, writer Mark Gatiss

All The Doctor Who Extras from Series 9:

Doctor Who Extra: The Magician’s Apprentice & The Witch’s Familiar
Peter Capaldi reveals all, and shows off his guitar riffs, as we get the inside story on this stunning two-parter. Featuring additional interviews with Michelle Gomez and Steven Moffat.
Doctor Who Extra: Under the Lake & Before the Flood
Go backstage and meet some very ghastly monsters! Discover the secret of a special celebrity appearance as Paul Kaye welcomes us on location, and we reveal how to make a big splash on set. Featuring interviews with Peter Capaldi, Jenna Coleman, writer Toby Whithouse and production designer Michael Pickwoad.
Doctor Who Extra: The Girl Who Died & The Woman Who Lived
Maisie Williams talks about crossing fandoms, celebrates her birthday with an impromptu quiz, and generally everyone has a lot of fun, as Rufus Hound gives us a unique view of what it’s like to make Doctor Who. Featuring interviews with Peter Capaldi and Maisie Williams.
Doctor Who Extra: The Zygon Invasion & The Zygon Inversion
The Zygons are back! We discover how a Zygon keeps fit, and Ingrid Oliver tells of her delight at once more playing the Doctor’s biggest fan, Osgood! Featuring interviews with Peter Capaldi, Jenna Coleman and Ingrid Oliver.
Doctor Who Extra: Sleep No More
Mark Gatiss reveals the story behind the horror, Reece Shearsmith reviews the importance of space glasses, and we look at the challenges of making this unique episode. Featuring interviews with Peter Capaldi, Jenna Coleman and Steven Moffat.
Doctor Who Extra: Face the Raven
Joivan Wade (Rigsy) is shocked to be back, but he’s not the only character to return for this unforgettable adventure, as we discover the perils of thinking you are invincible. Featuring interviews with Peter Capaldi, Jenna Coleman and Steven Moffat.
Doctor Who Extra: Heaven Sent & Hell Bent
Steven Moffat and director Rachel Talalay reveal the challenges of creating the puzzle-box that is Heaven Sent, we get wind-blown in Fuerteventura, and we witness the departure of a companion as we go on set for Jenna Coleman’s last day of filming. Featuring interviews with Peter Capaldi, Jenna Coleman, Steven Moffat and Rachel Talalay.
Doctor Who Extra: The Husbands of River Song
Matt Lucas is our guide as we join River Song, the Doctor and a star-liner full of supervillains for this festive Christmas special. We get the heads-up on the Hydroflax from Greg Davies, reveal Alex Kingston’s favourite Sonic, and we find out what Peter Capaldi is getting for Christmas. Featuring interviews with Peter Capaldi, Alex Kingston, and Steven Moffat.

Doctor Who Documentaries:

Writing Who
The definitive guide for a would-be Doctor Who scriptwriter. We follow Sarah Dollard on her intricate journey to create her episode, Trap Street. From the highs of pitching her original idea to Steven Moffat, to the challenges of writing her first draft – faced with a blank page and typing Int. TARDIS Day - to seeing her episode becoming reality.
Dalek Devotion
Peter Capaldi and Steven Moffat reveal the inspiration for the return of the Daleks to the incredible season opener of series 9, how their earliest memories have shaped their devotion to the ultimate killing machine, and the journey to the Dalek homeland of Skaro.
The Adventures of River Song
Join Alex Kingston and Steven Moffat as we look forward to River’s return in The Husbands of River Song. Find out how River’s character came to be created, why Alex just had to play the role, what happened when the cast discovered who River really is. Narrated by Nina Toussaint-White.
Doctor Who: Sublime Online
A video selection box of the funniest, most insightful and engaging online treats from behind the scenes of Series 9. With interviews and magical moments from Peter Capaldi, Jenna Coleman and Steven Moffat, and featuring a host of guest stars, including Maisie Williams, Michelle Gomez, Rufus Hound, Ingrid Oliver and Slipknot.
Clara’s Journey
In 2012, Jenna Coleman joined Doctor Who and took her place in television history as the Doctor’s newest companion, Clara Oswald. Having become the longest serving companion since the revival of the show, Clara’s time on the TARDIS has now come to an end, so we can now look back at just what made the Impossible Girl, well, possible. Featuring interviews with Peter Capaldi, Matt Smith and Jenna Coleman. Narrated by Colin McFarlane.
The Fan Show’s Finest
Christel Dee gives a whistle-stop guide to Doctor Who: The Fan Show the online series that celebrates Doctor Who and the amazing creativity of the show's fans. We get a peek inside Steven Moffat’s writing lair, take a look into the Old Monster’s Retirement Home and step into the amazing world of Minecraft to find out how fans are celebrating their love for the show online. We even get face to face with the Doctor and Missy to ask them all the questions the fans want to know.
Other VAM includes the Series 9 US prequel - The Doctor’s Meditation, deleted Scenes, Series 8 recap and all Series 9 trailers and prologue, the 2015 San Diego Comic Con Panel and an interview with Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman hosted by Wil Wheaton.

The Complete Series Nine will be available to pre-order from our Amazon Shops in the UK (Blu-ray/DVD), USA (Blu-ray/DVD) and Canada (Blu-ray/DVD), and can also be purchased from the BBC Shop and other retailers. (please note that at the time of writing only Amazon in the USA have the item up for pre-order, the others are expected to have it available shortly)

FILTER: - BBC Worldwide - Blu-ray/DVD - Jenna Coleman - Peter Capaldi - Twelfth Doctor

Strictly TARDIS

Saturday, 12 December 2015 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Semi-finalist Jay McGuiness with dance partner Aliona Vilani danced the Charleston to 'Dr Jazz' tonight on Strictly Come Dancing, including a Doctor Who motif.

Strictly Come Dancing: Aliona Vilani, Jay McGuiness (Credit: BBC/Guy Levy)

Strictly Come Dancing clip (YouTube)

FILTER: - BBC - Miscellaneous - Publicity

The Legends of Ashildr

Wednesday, 9 December 2015 - Reported by Chuck Foster

BBC Books have announced a new hardback book to tie in with the recent series of Doctor Who, focussing on the character of Ashildr as played by Maisie Williams:

The Legends of Ashildr (Credit: BBC Books)

DOCTOR WHO: THE LEGENDS OF ASHILDR
NEVER-BEFORE-TOLD STORIES OF THE WOMAN WHO LIVED
Written by James Goss, Jenny T Colgan, David Llewellyn and Justin Richards
Published by BBC Books on 10th December (hardback) [pre-order]

Ten thousand hours is all it takes to master any skill. Twenty thousand, and you’re the best in the world.
Over a hundred thousand, and you’re the best there’s ever been.

Ashildr, a young Viking girl, died helping the Doctor and Clara to save her village. Brought back to life by the Doctor using alien technology, she is now immortal – The Woman Who Lived. Since then, Ashildr has kept journals, detailing her extraordinary life.

The Legends of Ashildr is a glimpse of some of those stories: the terrors she has faced, the battles she has won, and the treasures she has found. These are tales of a woman who lived longer than she should ever have lived – and lost more than she can even remember.

This title features Ashildr, as played by Maisie Williams. The Legends of Ashildr is set between her first two encounters with the Doctor, as shown in the 2015 episodes The Girl Who Died and The Woman Who Lived.

Competition

To be in with a chance to win a copy of The Legends of Ashildr courtesy of BBC Books, simply answer the following question:

By the time of the Doctor's encounter with Ashildr in 17th Century England, her father had become a distant memory ... what was his name?

Please send your answers along with your name, address and where you heard about the competition (news site, news app, other website, etc.) to comp-legends@doctorwhonews.net with the subject "Don't mind Me ...". The competition is to residents of the United Kingdom only, closing date: 31st December 2015. Only one entry per household will be accepted.

FILTER: - BBC - Books - Competitions - Merchandise

BBC Entertainment to wind down in Central/Eastern Europe

Tuesday, 8 December 2015 - Reported by Chuck Foster

BBC Worldwide have announced the closure of BBC Entertainment for a number of countries in Central and Eastern Europe. The standard definition channel, which replaced the former BBC Prime in the region in 2009, is itself being phased out in favour of the high definition BBC First which is being steadily rolled out across global markets.

Doctor Who has been shown on the channel across Europe almost without a break since its rebranding (with Love & Monsters being the first under the new banner), and as other local channels slowly ended contracts BBC Entertainment became the place to see the programme in those countries that received it - its widespread accessibility across the continent contributing over a third of the Guinness World Record broadcasting achievement for The Day of the Doctor on the show's 50th Anniversary! The final scheduled broadcast for this year will be The Time of the Doctor in the early hours of Monday 28th December (the episode also being the channel's Christmas Day choice).

The launch of BBC First in those regions has yet to be announced. It is unclear whether the European channel will broadcast older series of Doctor Who in the same way as BBC Entertainment, or whether it will just broadcast current series such as Series Nine has been in the Benelux and South African regions this year (with the latter showcasing the show on its launch in October).

The press release in full:

BBC Entertainment will close across Central & Eastern Europe from 1 January 2016.

We would like to thank the BBC Entertainment audience for their support, but as the roll-out of our new BBC channels gathers pace and certain carriage agreements come to an end in some markets, the channel is not sustainable across CEE markets. BBC Worldwide’s focus is on our new genre brands - BBC First, BBC Earth and BBC Brit.

Central and Eastern Europe remains a priority market for BBC Worldwide. We are continuing to invest in our presence across the region and recently launched our premium factual brand BBC Earth as a linear channel in Romania, Hungary and Slovenia.

BBC Worldwide has strong partnerships with local free to air broadcasters, Pay TV networks and digital platforms in the region. Many BBC programmes will continue to be seen through these providers in Central & Eastern Europe.

The channel will close in the following regions: Albania, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Ukraine. Viewing of BBC Entertainment in UAE, Turkey, Israel and Western Europe remains unaffected.

BBC Entertainment in Latin America ceased broadcasting Doctor Who earlier this year, with the rights to broadcast Doctor Who passing to SyFy next year.

FILTER: - BBC Worldwide - Broadcasting - International Broadcasting

BBC Store: The Beginner's Guide To Doctor Who

Friday, 4 December 2015 - Reported by Chuck Foster

BBC Store: The Beginnners Guide to Doctor Who (Credit: BBC Worldwide)

The BBC Store has organised a new collection of Doctor Who stories, The Beginner's Guide to Doctor Who, with the aim to introduce the series to new fans of the show. The collection is a selection of stories from throughout the show's history:

From the new era, fan favourite Blink starring Carey Mulligan introduces the terrifying Weeping Angels, Doctor Who’s return to BBC One in Rose with Billie Piper and Christopher Eccleston, and many of the much loved classic stories including Spearhead from Space, Genesis of the Daleks and Earthshock are all packaged together to give new fans an introduction to the longest running Sci Fi drama in the world.

BBC Store’s Simon Farquhar said:

Some people might feel a bit overwhelmed by Doctor Who and not know where to start exploring it. If you’ve ever found yourself wondering about the history of the Whoniverse and how it evolved, then our Beginners’ Guide is here to help audiences navigate time and space across the most imaginative world television has ever created. We’ve tried to select stories that exemplify the different eras the show has gone through, from the eerie black and white beginnings to the Gothic horror of the mid-Seventies and the fast-paced furore of today’s series . It’s been difficult with so many episodes and Doctors to choose from, but this collection is a fun way to begin exploring Doctor Who.

The complete list of stories in the package are: The Tomb of the Cybermen, Spearhead from Space, Genesis of the Daleks, The Talons of Weng-Chiang, Earthshock, Rose, Blink, The Day of The Doctor, and Mummy on the Orient Express. Keen-eyed readers will note that the very first story An Unearthly Child isn't available either in this set or on the BBC Store in general at present, which has been down to ongoing rights issues; BBC Worldwide told us:

The first story is a regrettable omission but yes, it still is not cleared.

FILTER: - BBC Worldwide - Online

BBC One Christmas Idents: Sprout Boy

Tuesday, 1 December 2015 - Reported by Chuck Foster

BBC One Christmas Ident: Sprout Boy meets the Doctor (Credit: BBC)

This year's BBC One idents are based around a well-known icon of Christmas, the sprout. Launched after tonight's The One Show, a two minute video Sprout Boy introduces the eponymous star of the idents as he meets the characters of Christmas television - including the Doctor!

The video also features the voice of Peter Capaldi as the narrator.

In addition to Sprout Boy, a 40 second trailer for BBC One television over Christmas was also broadcast.

Sprout Boy
BBC One Trailer

Full details of the Christmas season can be found on the BBC website.

FILTER: - BBC

BBC Adventure Calendar

Tuesday, 1 December 2015 - Reported by Chuck Foster

The official Doctor Who page on the BBC website will once again post a selection of images, clips, games and other goodies over the days leading up to Christmas in their Adventure Calendar.

The festive treats are unlocked at around midday daily, with the first being three wallpapers reflecting this Saturday's series finale, Hell Bent.

FILTER: - BBC - Miscellaneous - Online

Doctor Who Festival Australia

Sunday, 22 November 2015 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Doctor Who Festival, Sydney Australia: Ingrid Oliver, Peter Capaldi and Steven Moffat on stage (Credit: BBC Worldwide)

BBC Worldwide have released a number of photos taken on the first day at the Doctor Who Festival taking place in Sydney, Australia this weekend; guests on stage included current Doctor Peter Capaldi, former Doctor Sylvester McCoy, lead writer Steven Moffat and the human (or Zygon!) half of the Osgoods, Ingrid Oliver.

(with thanks to BBC Worldwide)

FILTER: - Australia - BBC Worldwide - Special Events

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 - The Ten Christmas Specials

Thursday, 1 October 2015 - Reported by Chuck Foster

BBC Worldwide have announced a new boxed set of Doctor Who adventures, this time featuring the Christmas Specials that have aired so far...

Doctor Who: The Ten Christmas Specials (Credit: BBC Worldwide)

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without Doctor Who! Doctor Who - The Ten Christmas Specials marks the tenth anniversary of the Timelord’s return and this special limited edition boxset contains all ten Christmas Specials, plus a set of five graphically illustrated Christmas Cards, an exclusive bonus feature fronted by Rufus Hound which features personal reflections from Peter Capaldi and Steven Moffat and a souvenir booklet.

In this action-packed box-set, featuring Christmas specials starring Tenth Doctor David Tennant, Eleventh Doctor Matt Smith and Twelfth Doctor Peter Capaldi, the Doctor must save the world from an array of monsters including Killer Santas, The Sycorax, Rachnoss, The Wooden King & Queen and The Dream Crabs.

The set is out in the United Kingdom on DVD and Blu-Ray from 19th October.

FILTER: - BBC Worldwide - Blu-ray/DVD - Christopher Eccleston - David Tennant - Matt Smith

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