Radio Times Doctor Who Cover (Christmas 2010)

Tuesday, 30 November 2010 - Reported by Chuck Foster

As we expected last week, Doctor Who once again adorns the cover of a Radio Times for Christmas, this year on the issue dated 11th-17th December 2010. The cover art features Matt Smith, Sir Michael Gambon, and Katherine Jenkins "taking the trip of their lives", with the magazine featuring a three page article on the forthcoming Christmas Special, A Christmas Carol.

As well as discussing the programme, Matt Smith reflects on his first Christmas outing as the Doctor:

It was a great privilege to do it. It's something I've always wanted to do since I started the show. I love Christmas, plus I've always wanted to film something in July that has got snow in, loads of snow ... it's very Christmassy.

Katherine Jenkins also talks about getting what is her first acting role:

It was far worse than any nerves I've ever had for any performance. I spent a lot of time thinking about it; it's such an iconic show, and it's one that we watch as a family. I just thought, "I'd love to give it a try." But I'm the first to say I don't really consider myself an actress. So, I asked if I could go in and read to them and I thought, "Well, if I'm rubbish they won't give it to me, will they?" So I read to them and they called me on my 30th birthday and offered me the part.

You can read more about the Special, Matt Smith and Katherine Jenkins's thoughts of working alongside Sir Michael Gambon - plus their own singing talents - in the issue, available in the shops from 2nd December. The traditional double-issue of the Radio Times for the Christmas period will follow a couple of days later on the 4th December.

This is the sixth consecutive year that there has been a special cover for Doctor Who at Christmas, one for each Christmas since the series returned (seven covers if you also include the Dalek-variant version of the Christmas 2009 edition). You can see these and all other Doctor Who covers on the Radio Times website.

FILTER: - Specials - Radio Times

7pm for A Christmas Carol?

Friday, 26 November 2010 - Reported by Chuck Foster

The Sun reports the Doctor Who Christmas Special, A Christmas Carol, has been scheduled for 7:00pm on Christmas Day.

 5.30 TBA
 6.30 TBA
 7.00 Doctor Who
 8.00 The One Ronnie
 9.00 The Royle Family

No further information on the two "TBA" entries is known at present, though previous years have seen an edition of Eastenders and Strictly Come Dancing broadcast on Christmas Day.

Scheduling for the period has yet to be finalised, so the times/programmes might change.

Meanwhile, in the Radio Times for the 11-17th December: "Matt Smith reveals the secrets of Doctor Who's Christmas cracker". Though not mentioned in the preceeding issue, recent years have seen a cover dedicated to Doctor Who over the run-up to Christmas (you can see previous covers on the Radio Times website).

The Radio Times site also has a preview for A Christmas Carol.

It is still possible to order the Radio Times exclusive posters and Companion guide.

FILTER: - Specials - Radio Times

Matt Smith/Karen Gillan on BBC Radio 1 Christmas Eve

Wednesday, 24 November 2010 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Matt Smith and Karen Gillan are to become guest presenters on BBC Radio 1 as part of the Top 10s of 2010, where celebrities from both the music and entertainment world will present their ten favourite tracks from the year.

The duo's broadcast will be on Christmas Eve, between 8:00-9:00am, and will be available to listen to through all the usual BBC media facilities.

Read the BBC Press release for more details about the Top 10s of 2010.

FILTER: - Special Events - Karen Gillan - Matt Smith - Radio

Radio Times Companion Poll Results

Tuesday, 16 November 2010 - Reported by Chuck Foster

This week's edition of the Radio Times features the results of their recent companion poll; the list is compiled from over 3000 votes made online (see below).

Also, as well as the exclusive posters advertised previously, there is a new Companions Special available to order; the 164 glossy magazine contains a profile of over forty companions from 1963 to the present day, articles by "the companions in their own words", plus never-before-seen photographs and material from the Radio Times archive.

Rose Tyler (Billie Piper)
Sarah Jane Smith (Elisabeth Sladen)
Donna Noble (Catherine Tate)
K•9 (John Leeson/David Brierley)
Amy Pond (Karen Gillan)
Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman)
Ace (Sophie Aldred)
Leela (Louise Jameson)
Jo Grant (Katy Manning)
Brigadier Lethbridge Stewart (Nicholas Courtney)
Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman)
Jamie McCrimmon (Frazer Hines)
Romana II (Lalla Ward)
Tegan Jovanka (Janet Fielding)
Wilfred Mott (Bernard Cribbins)
Peri Brown (Nicola Bryant)
River Song (Alex Kingston)
Harry Sullivan (Ian Marter)
Polly (Anneke Wills)
Turlough (Mark Strickson)

The Radio Times is out in the United Kingdom today, Tuesday 16th November.

The Companions volume can now be ordered online

FILTER: - Radio Times

Radio Times Companion Poll

Thursday, 21 October 2010 - Reported by Chuck Foster

The current issue of the Radio Times (23rd-29th October) includes an article with Matt Smith discussing who is his favourite companion in Doctor Who, plus the run-down on the Doctor's former companions appearing in next week's The Sarah Jane Adventures story Death of the Doctor, Elisabeth Sladen and Katy Manning.

On the Radio Times website you can find an exclusive photo gallery to accompany the story.

Plus, you are also invited to vote for your favourite companion, with the chance to win a limited edition Doctor Who Series Five Steelbook in either standard DVD or Blu-ray versions.

The closing date for the competition is the 1st November.

FILTER: - Radio Times

Tennant talks to Radio Times

Wednesday, 6 October 2010 - Reported by Marcus

The words Doctor Who once more adorn the cover of Radio Times this week, along with a picture of Tenth Doctor, David Tennant.

The magazine is promoting Tennant's latest venture, playing the lead role in Single Father, a four-part drama for BBC One about a man struggling to raise his four children after the death of his wife. Written by Mick Ford of Ashes To Ashes, the series is set in Glasgow, and tells the story of Dave, a photographer facing the seemingly impossible job of bringing up his four kids alone. Things get even more complicated when he begins to fall in love with Sarah – his wife's best friend.

Tennant was asked about the timing of his departure from Doctor Who.

It felt right to pass the baton on and for it to continue to thrive. I think that was all exactly as I would wish it to be. There’s a downside to playing the role, but in my experience it’s grossly outweighed by the upside because I loved doing it so much that I wouldn’t have missed that opportunity for anything. It was just wonderful and it created many, many more opportunities than it closed down. I think my life is in a very different place and my career is in a very different place to what it was before I did Doctor Who and that is 90 per cent positive.

Tennant was also asked about the recent series and new Doctor, Matt Smith

I’m very nervous to say anything, because anything I say is turned into some soundbite and used by the Daily Mail as proof that I’m a… Genuinely, I think it’s been brilliant. I’ve loved every second of it. It’s a thrill for me to be watching it as a viewer again. I knew Matt was going to be fantastic and he is. He’s a great choice and he’s knocked it out of the park.

FILTER: - David Tennant - Radio Times

News Roundup

Friday, 1 October 2010 - Reported by Marcus

The Radio 4 documentary, Shelved, looking at how the political circumstances of the late 1970s resulted in the cancellation of the Fourth Doctor story, Shada, is repeated on Friday 8th October at 23.30 UK Time and will be available worldwide on the BBC iPlayer.

Toby Hadoke's satirical journey as a Doctor Who obsessive, Moths Ate My Dr Who Scarf, is now in the BBC iPlayer until next Wednesday.

Doctor Who composer Murray Gold has written a foreword for a new book Soundtrack Nation which contains interviews with representatives from the art and business sides of movie and television soundtracks.

A sketch featuring Doctor Who appeared on US Television in The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson and can be seen on YouTube.

Freelance designer Kyle Lambert has been working with IDW on an idea to publish a Doctor Who comic book cover drawn on an iPad using a finger. Although the project is unlikely to go ahead a video showing how they were made has been posted by Lambert on YouTube.

FILTER: - Music - Murray Gold - Documentary - Radio

Doctor Who Prom

Saturday, 24 July 2010 - Reported by Marcus

The first Doctor Who Prom of 2010 took place today, Saturday, hosted by Matt Smith and Karen Gillan.

The BBC National Orchestra of Wales, who record the soundtrack for the series, presented a selection of intergalactic music, including Murray Gold’s music from the TV show, plus a selection of classical favourites including Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries, Mars from Holst's The Planets and Orff's Carmina Burnana.

Before the concert, Matt Smith said of the Doctor Who Prom:

Utterly nerve-wracking... I think that Murray Gold is incredible, totally incredibly – a genius – and to hear all that in the Royal Albert Hall will just be one of the most soaring experiences.

The concert programme can be viewed on the Proms website, providing full details of the concert, the performers' biographies and an interview with Matt Smith and Karen Gillan.

The programme is now available for seven days on the BBC iPlayer.

Doctor Who Prom - Part One

Murray Gold - The Mad Man with a Box
Murray Gold - An Untimely Arrival
John Adams - Short Ride in a Fast Machine
Murray Gold - I Am The Doctor
William Walton - Overture Portsmouth Point
Gustav Holst - The Planets - Mars
Murray Gold - Battle in the Skies

Interval Twenty Minutes - Dance of the Daleks
How do you make a sink-plunger seem scary? Matthew Sweet, who spent the Saturday tea-times of his youth peering at the television from behind the sofa, time-travels through Doctor Who's 47-year history to investigate the weird and wonderful soundworld of its incidental music. He talks with some of the composers who have contributed, in very different musical styles, to the enduring success of the programme over the decades.

Doctor Who Prom - Part Two

Carl Orff - Carmina Burana - O Fortuna
Murray Gold - Amy
Murray Gold - Liz, Lizards and Vincenyt
Richard Wagner - Die Walkure
Murray Gold - This is Gallifrey / Vale decem
Murray Gold - Pandorica Suite
Murray Gold - Song of Freedom
Ron Grainer - Doctor Who Theme

FILTER: - Music - Murray Gold - Special Events - Radio

Doctor Who Prom - Broadcast Details

Thursday, 15 July 2010 - Reported by Marcus

The BBC have released details of the BBC Radio Three broadcast of the Doctor Who Prom taking place on Saturday 24 July.

The Prom will be broadcast live on the station from 7.30pm - 9.45pm UK Time, and will be available worldwide on the BBC iPlayer.

The Doctor is back. Two years ago, he appeared at the BBC Proms via video link. This year, he's here in person. Thrills, spills, adventures, monsters and special guests are all guaranteed along the way in this Proms spectacular. Petroc Trelawny has the unenviable task of keeping everything in order for BBC Radio 3 – though, sadly, without the help of a sonic screwdriver.

Doctor Who (Matt Smith) and his assistant, Amy Pond (Karen Gillan), join the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and the London Philharmonic Choir for an action-packed evening. Monsters from the current run of the hugely successful BBC series threaten to disrupt proceedings. Only the Doctor – ably assisted by conductors Ben Foster and Grant Llewellyn – can save the day.

There are some classical favourites with a suitably celestial theme, including Mars from Holst's Planets Suite and John Adams's thrilling Short Ride In A Fast Machine.

We understand the following tracks from Doctor Who Composer Murray Gold, will be included in the programme.

The Madman with a Box (Prologue); An Untimely Arrival; I am the Doctor; Battle in the Skies; Amy; Liz, Lizards, Vampires and Vincent; This is Gallifrey / Vale Decem; Pandorica Suite; Song of Freedom; Doctor Who Theme.

The twenty minute interval will be filled on Radio Three with a documentary looking at the weird and wonderful sound world of Doctor Who's incidental music, Dance Of The Daleks.

Matthew Sweet spent the Saturday tea-times of his youth peering at the television, from behind the sofa, to watch Doctor Who. He time-travels through the programme's 47-year history to investigate the weird and wonderful sound world of its incidental music. He talks with some of the composers who have contributed, in very different musical styles, to the enduring success of the programme over the decades.

FILTER: - Music - Special Events - Radio

Eccleston talks departure

Tuesday, 15 June 2010 - Reported by Chuck Foster

The new Radio Times features an interview with former Doctor Christopher Eccleston. The article focusses on his role as John Lennon in the BBC film Lennon Naked (BBC4/BBHD, 9:30pm Wed 23rd), but he also discusses his departure from Doctor Who after just the one series:

I was open-minded but I decided after my experience on the first series that I didn't want to do any more. I didn't enjoy the environment and the culture that we, the cast and crew, had to work in. I wasn't comfortable. I thought "if I stay in this job, I'm going to have to blind myself to certain things that I thought were wrong."

And I think it's more important to be your own man than be successful, so I left. But the most important thing is that I did it, not that I left. I really feel that, because it kind of broke the mould and it helped to reinvent it. I'm very proud of it.

The Radio Times (19-25th June 2010) is out now.

FILTER: - Christopher Eccleston - Radio Times

Previous 10 Stories