BBC America announces "Takeover Week" / cinema presentations

Thursday, 31 July 2014 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Peter Capaldi as the Doctor (Credit: BBC/Adrian Rogers)BBC America have announced a series of events taking place in the lead-up and aftermath of the series premiere of Deep Breath in the United States.

During the week before broadcast, the channel will premiere new specials relating to the show, including Doctor Who: The Ultimate Companion on the 16th August at 9:00pm, The Real History of Science Fiction: Time at 10:00pm, and then Doctor Who: The Ultimate Time Lord on the 18th at 10:00pm, which forms part of a marathon week of Doctor Who episodes.

On the day itself, Doctor Who: Live Pre-Show will be presented by Nerdist presenter Chris Hardwick at 7:30pm before the premiere airs at 8:00pm. Doctor Who is then followed by another premiere, Intruders, before the show is once again the focus in Doctor Who: After Who Live at 11:00pm - the show aims to feature a host of guests in studio, including writer/actor Mark Gatiss, plus behind-the-scenes footage.

The day after will see Make Your Own Sunday, featuring the top episodes voted for by BBC America viewers in an online poll that opens on the 6th August.


Meanwhile, as with the United Kingdom, the episode will have a cinematic release in the USA, though this will not be simulcast. Instead, BBC America have partnered with Fathom Events to present Deep Breath in a special screening event taking place in twelve cities from midnight, with full details to be announced on the 5th August.

This will be followed by a wider cinematic release on the 25th August, with over 550 cinemas showing the episode at 7:00pm and 9:30pm, accompanied by the prequel and behind-the-scenes material as seen in the UK (no Q&A).

Tickets are now available to purchase from participating venues and also online from Fathom Events.




FILTER: - BBC America - Cinema - Premiere Events - Series 8/34 - Special Events - USA

Deep Breath cinema tickets on sale in UK from 1st August

Thursday, 31 July 2014 - Reported by Chuck Foster
The Doctor is annoyed that Clara booked her cinema ticket before him... (Photo Credit: BBC/Adrian Rogers)The BBC have reported that tickets to the cinematic outing of the Doctor Who new series premiere Deep Breath will go on sale from tomorrow morning (1st August) from 11:00am.

As well as the episode itself, cinemas will also be showing an exclusive five minute video that features on a future Doctor Who DVD release, plus a ten minute behind-the-scenes film covering the making of the episode (which viewers at home will also be able to see via the BBC Red Button).

In addition to cinemas around the country, there will be a special showing at London's Odeon Leicester Square which will also include a live Q&A with guest stars from the story. Limited tickets for this event can be purchased from Odeon tomorrow from the earlier time of 10:00am. Viewers at other cinemas will also be able to see the Q&A via a live stream.

Stephen Davies, Director for Live Events, said:
Following the tremendous success of the 50th anniversary screenings, this is another wonderful opportunity for fans to get together to celebrate another major milestone and enjoy the amazing opening episode of the Peter Capaldi era on the big screen.

Deep Breath has been rated PG, with the cinema events expected to end between 10:00-10:30pm.




FILTER: - Cinema - Premiere Events - Series 8/34 - Special Events

Doctor Who World Tour: Latin/South America Details

Monday, 28 July 2014 - Reported by Chuck Foster
World Tour 2014 - Mexico CityBBC Worldwide have confirmed that the Doctor Who World Tour will touch down in Mexico City on Sunday 17th August, with series stars Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman to appear at the Teatro Metropolitan theatre for the screening of series premiere Deep Breath and a Q&A session.

Update: the following day sees the pair travel to Brazil, where they appear at the Vivo Rio Auditorium in Rio de Janeiro.

Vice-president and managing director for BBC Worldwide Latin America and US Hispanic, Fred Medina, said:
Doctor Who is one of the most popular shows in Latin America with some of the most dedicated fans and we are excited to bring Doctor Who: The World Tourto both Mexico City and Rio de Janeiro.This is a unique opportunity for the fans in these cities to see for the first time the main cast of the series and have a memorable experience.

More details on the activities and ticket information for both days will be announced shortly.





FILTER: - Latin America - Premiere - Events - Series 8/34 - Special Events

Symphonic Spectacular for the United Kingdom in 2015

Monday, 28 July 2014 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular 2014BBC Worldwide have announced that the successful Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular will be arriving in the United Kingdom during May 2015, to be performed by the BBC’s National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales.

Content of the performances are detailed as follows:
The version of the show performed on the 2015 UK Tour will include some of the music performed at previous Doctor Who Proms and the Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular shows performed in Australia and in New Zealand in 2012 and 2014. It will also include a very considerable amount of material not performed at any of the previous shows, both from the first adventures of the Twelfth Doctor (which broadcasts on 23 August 2014) and from previous incarnations.


Two performances are planned for 3:00pm and 7:30pm at the following venues:
  • Sat 23 May 2015 - SSE Arena, Wembley, London
  • Mon 25 May 2015 - Motorpoint Area, Cardiff
  • Tue 26 May 2015 - National Indoor Arena, Birmingham
  • Wed 27 May 2015 - First Direct Arena, Leeds
  • Thu 28 May 2015 - Newcastle Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle
  • Fri 29 May 2015 - SSE Hydro, Glasgow

Tickets for the performances go on sale to the general public from Friday 1st August, but fans will be able to book early from 10:00am on Wednesday 30 July via the SeeTickets website. There are also some pre-order packages available that can be purchased along with the ticket:
  • Standard Edition: includes souvenir brochure and a t-shirt design not available on the tour
  • Platinum Edition (3000 only): includes souvenir brochure with limited edition cover, t-shirt design not available on tour, limited edition numbered tour poster, souvenir ticket, limited edition tour laminate and lanyard





FILTER: - Music - Special Events

Tom Baker sculpture to be revealed

Saturday, 26 July 2014 - Reported by Marcus
Hyde Fundraisers is to reveal a new likeness of the Fourth Doctor, as played by Tom Baker, at its charity display at Spaceport, Merseyside.

The new sculpture will be unveiled at 10am on Sunday 3 August and will join the collection of replica characters created to raise funds for BBC Children In Need and other charities.

The Fourth Doctor has been sculpted by Phil Robinson, the man responsible for re-creating the Davros mask for the 2005 stageshow The Trial of Davros. The sculpture will include a replica costume from Season 18 as the Doctor is stepping from the Police Box.

On the day there will also be the chance to meet Robinson and see some of his other sculpted work, meet Hyde Fundraisers and get some photographs.

The official BBC exhibition with genuine props and costumes from the TV series is the Doctor Who Experience in Cardiff.




FILTER: - Fourth Doctor - Special Events - Tom Baker - UK

BBC Radiophonic Workshop - Live at the Quay

Friday, 25 July 2014 - Reported by Marcus
Former members of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop will be performing tonight as part of the BBC at the Quay event.

The live entertainment festival is being held alongside the Commonwealth Games, from a site directly outside BBC Scotland’s headquarters building at Pacific Quay. It features huge variety of live and recorded radio and TV programmes and special events.

The Radiophonic team will be performing music from The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and Doctor Who.

Those taking part include Paddy Kingsland, Peter Howell, Dick Mills, Mark Ayres, Roger Limb and drummer Kieron Pepper.

The team are performing from 7.30pm UK time with the whole event will be streamed online.

NB Update. Performance in now on iPlayer




FILTER: - Music - Special Events

Red Carpet Treatment in Cardiff

Friday, 25 July 2014 - Reported by Marcus
Doctor Who fans arriving in Cardiff for the world premiere screening of the first episode from the new series, Deep Breath, will get an opportunity to see the new Doctor on the red carpet, ahead of the event, 7 August.

Peter Capaldi, the Twelfth Doctor and Jenna Coleman, his on-screen companion Clara, will be meeting the public as they walk up the red carpet outside Cardiff Central Library, from 11am, en route to the sell-out screening at St David’s Hall. Joining them in the Hayes will be Cybermen and Daleks.

Brian Minchin, Executive Producer of Doctor Who, says:
After seven months of filming the moment has finally arrived when we get to introduce Peter Capaldi to the world. And where better to start but Cardiff, the home of Doctor Who!
BBC Wales Director, Rhodri Talfan Davies, says:
Doctor Who is getting even bigger and even better - and it's a real thrill that the show's fans here in Wales will be the very first to see the new Doctor at this very special premiere screening. Doctor Who has been made in Wales for almost 10 years - and we're so proud of its worldwide success.




FILTER: - Jenna Coleman - Peter Capaldi - Premiere Events - Series 8/34 - Special Events

Deep Breath to get cinema outing

Friday, 25 July 2014 - Reported by Marcus
BBC Worldwide has announced that the first episode of Doctor Who Series 8 - Deep Breath - will be screened in cinemas around the world from 23 August 2014.

This year’s screenings follow the success of the global cinema release of Doctor Who’s 50th anniversary episode The Day of the Doctor which was screened in over 1500 cinemas around the world.

The feature-length premiere episode of Series 8, starring new Doctor Peter Capaldi, is directed by acclaimed Director Ben Wheatley (Sightseers, A Field in England) and written by lead writer and executive producer Steven Moffat. The story, detailing the beginning of the twelfth Doctor’s era features Jenna Coleman as his companion Clara Oswald and sees the return of fan favourites The Paternoster Gang - Madame Vastra (Neve McIntosh), Jenny Flint (Catrin Stewart) and Strax (Dan Starkey) – in a pulse-racing adventure through Victorian London.

Steven Moffat comments:
Last November the Doctor didn't just conquer the world on television, he did it in the cinemas too. And like the show-off he is, he can't resist another go - one taste of the silver screen is never enough. On August 23rd the new Doctor will begin his new adventures on BBC One and in cinemas all over the world. Movie-land beware - Capaldi is coming to get you!
Doctor Who: Deep Breath will be screened in participating cinemas around the world from 23 August, 2014. More information will be released by BBC Worldwide and participating cinema chains over the coming weeks.




FILTER: - Cinema - Premiere Events - Series 8/34 - Special Events - Steven Moffat

Doctor Who World Tour: South Korea Update

Monday, 21 July 2014 - Reported by Marcus
BBC Worldwide has responded to criticism from fans in South Korea by changing the venue of the Seoul leg of its World Tour, allowing many more people to attend the special screening in the capital.

The event will now take place in the Grand Ballroom at the 63 Building which will give more than 1000 fans the chance to watch the first episode of the upcoming season of Doctor Who, Deep Breath.

The fan event will still take place on August 9 and will include an appearance by the new Doctor, played by Peter Capaldi, and his on-screen companion, played by Jenna Coleman.

Soojin Chung, GM of BBC Worldwide Korea said
"Fans are at the heart of everything we do. We have listened to and taken our fans advice. The new venue will allow many more fans to participate in the fan event and the contests we have planned will allow as many Doctor Who fans as possible to get their hands on tickets –whether they are in Seoul or not.
Tickets go on sale on Friday 25 July at 9am (KST). Fans will be able to purchase online from yes24.com . Tickets are priced at 15,000 KRW ($15.60) and 12,000 KRW ($11.70).

In the lead-up to the landing of the Doctor Who World Tour in Seoul, BBC Worldwide will host two competitions, giving fans the opportunity to win tickets to the fan event:
BBC Worldwide Ticket Competition.

Starting Tuesday 22 July, the TARDIS will be popping up in prominent locations in Seoul. Fans who spot it can take a creative picture of themselves with the TARDIS, and tweet us in the picture showing us how much they love Doctor Who. Fans should post to their photo to Twitter with the hashtag #tardisinseoul and the most creative pictures stand to win tickets to the fan event.

The TARDIS locations will be announced on our Twitter account @doctorwho_kor with the first location posted on Monday 21 July at 9pm Korea time. The full competition terms and conditions will be posted on doctorwho.tv/worldtour. Fans can start tweeting their entries from 12 noon on Tuesday 22 July until 11.59pm Sunday 27 July when the competition closes (all times KST).

Fans who aren't able to spot the TARDIS in Seoul can still win tickets to the event. A template for a mini cut-out TARDIS will be shared on Twitter at doctorwho_kor. Fans will be able to download this to use in their photos. Similar to the first competition, the most creative pictures, hashtagged #tardisinseoul stand to win tickets. The exact start date and time of this competition will be announced on Twitter.

50 pairs of tickets are up for grabs for each of the two competitions.




FILTER: - Series 8/34 - South Korea - Special Events

Series 8 launch party to be held in London

Friday, 18 July 2014 - Reported by John Bowman
A party celebrating the start of Series 8 of Doctor Who and the arrival of the 12th Doctor is to take place in London on Saturday 23rd August.

The first episode, Deep Breath, will be shown live on a giant screen with a top-notch sound system. So too will any additional Doctor Who programming being broadcast that afternoon and evening. Food and drink will be available to buy throughout the party.

Organised by Jeremy and Paula Bentham together with Tony Clark, the Twelfth Knight Party will be free to attend and is open to all people aged 18 and over. However, admission is by allocated ticket only.

Jeremy told Doctor Who News:
Launch parties are tremendous fun for everyone, but a launch party for a new Doctor is something very special indeed. Sharing and joining in the gasps of surprise, the laughter, the sudden intakes of breath, those little nods to past history as we prepare to venture " . . . into darkness." It's an amazing experience that only a live audience really gets.
Capacity at the Twelfth Knight Party is strictly limited to 800 places. To apply for tickets, e-mail Jeremy at jjbentham@aol.com no later than Sunday 10th August, using the subject line Twelfth Knight ticket applications and stating your name as well as how many people will be in your group. Before applying, though, people are urged to consider their transport options for getting home afterwards, as the party will finish late.

Successful applicants will be contacted on or before Sunday 17th August, when they will be told the exact location of the party and will be sent their group or individual tickets.

Since the show's return to TV in 2005, the organisers have held a series of highly popular event parties in London.




FILTER: - Doctor Who - Series 8/34 - Special Events - UK