Series Six for Latin America

Sunday, 18 November 2012 - Reported by Chuck Foster

BBC Worldwide Sales and Distribution Latin America have announced that the sixth series of Doctor Who will be broadcast in the region via the exclusive DIRECTV Latin America channel OnDIRECTV.

Willard Tressel, OnDIRECTV's General Manager, said:

We value our ongoing partnership with BBC Worldwide, which allows us to offer a variety of high quality content on OnDIRECTV and OnDIRECTV HD to our subscribers in Latin America. Plus, after airing the recent series re-boot of Doctor Who, our subscribers have been urgently asking for more!

Helen Jurado, VP, Sales & Distribution, BBC Worldwide Latin America, said:

Doctor Who boasts a massive audience and fan following around the world and OnDIRECTV is the perfect home for this incredibly successful show. As one of the longest-running sci-fi programs in history, we are confident it will gain further traction with viewers and attract new legions of fans throughout Latin America as it approaches its 50th anniversary.

FILTER: - Series 6/32 - BBC Worldwide - Press - Latin America

Boxing Day debut for The Snowmen in Australia

Sunday, 18 November 2012 - Reported by Adam Kirk

The Snowmen, will make its Australian debut on Boxing Day, Wednesday 26 December 2012 at 7.30pm on ABC1.

The previous two Christmas specials, A Christmas Carol and The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe, also debuted in Australia on Boxing Day.

Media Links: TV Tonight

FILTER: - Series Specials - Broadcasting - Series 7/33 - Australia

The Snowmen: BBC America Press Release

Saturday, 17 November 2012 - Reported by Chuck Foster

BBC America have published a press release for this year's Christmas Special, which will be broadcast on the channel on Christmas Day at 9:00pm ET/PT.

BBC AMERICA’S DOCTOR WHO ANNOUNCES DETAILS FOR ALL-NEW CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

Announced today, the title of this year’s Doctor Who Christmas special is The Snowmen. A new companion, a new look for the Doctor, plus a new monster will all be introduced in this movie-scale episode. Starring Matt Smith as the Doctor and introducing Jenna-Louise Coleman as new companion Clara, The Snowmen follows their adventures as they embark on a mission to save Christmas from the villainous Doctor Simeon (Richard E Grant, The Iron Lady, Dracula) and his army of icy snowmen. This year’s Doctor Who Christmas special premieres Tuesday, December 25, 9:00pm ET/PT on BBC AMERICA.

A sneak peek was released earlier today, during the broadcast of the BBC Children in Need special, revealing a new costume for the Doctor. Additionally, a special prequel was released showing the impact of the loss of the Ponds, with old friends Vastra, Strax and Jenny trying to persuade the Doctor not to give up his adventures.

Steven Moffat, Lead Writer and Executive Producer, said: "The Doctor at Christmas is one of my favorite things - but this year it's different. He's lost Amy and Rory to the Weeping Angels, and he's not in a good place: in fact, he's Scrooge. He's withdrawn from the world and no longer cares what happens to it. So when all of humanity hangs in the balance, can anyone persuade a tired and heartbroken Doctor that it's time to return to the good fight. Enter Jenna-Louise Coleman..."

Matt Smith, who plays the Doctor, commented: "For this year’s Christmas special we have the wonderfully villainous Richard E Grant as Doctor Simeon. As well as lizards, Victorian assassins and deranged warriors from the future, who all return to convince the Doctor that he should board the TARDIS again and save the world. Add to that Jenna-Louise Coleman and so begins the Christmas Special 2012. I hope everyone enjoys it!"

The BBC Cymru Wales produced series will return to BBC AMERICA on December 25 and an additional eight epic episodes will premiere in the spring.

Doctor Simeon (Richard E Grant). Photo: BBC Worldwide

The BBC have also published a press release for the Special, though unlike the United States the time of transmission has yet to be confirmed.

FILTER: - USA - Series Specials - Press - Series 7/33

The Snowmen: new publicity photo

Saturday, 17 November 2012 - Reported by Chuck Foster

The BBC have released a new promotional image for this year's Christmas Special, featuring Matt Smith as the Doctor and Jenna-Louise Coleman as Clara:

Matt Smith and Jenna-Louise Coleman in the Christmas Special. Photo: BBC

A photo of the Doctor in front of the TARDIS was released during the week as part of the publicity for Children in Need, and during this evening's charity show the special's first full trailer was broadcast, introducing Coleman's character and revealing the title as The Snowmen.

FILTER: - Series Specials - Series 7/33

Christmas Special: title revealed

Friday, 16 November 2012 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Matt Smith and Jenna-Louse Coleman introduced on Children in Need. Photo: Press Association

The title of this year's Doctor Who Christmas Special has been revealed on Children in Need to be:

The Snowmen

A trailer for the episode was broadcast tonight, which also introduced the Doctor's new friend-to-be, Clara (as played by Jenna-Louise Coleman). In addition, a special minisode was broadcast earlier in the evening to introduce the episode - The Great Detective featured the Doctor's old friends Vastra, Jenny and Strax in their attempts to coax him out of retirement ...

Watch The Great Detective ( YouTube / BBC iPlayer )

Watch the trailer for The Snowmen ( YouTube / BBC iPlayer )

Watch the teaser trailer for The Snowmen ( YouTube / BBC iPlayer)

FILTER: - Charities - Series Specials - Series 7/33

Christmas Special Title To Be Revealed Tonight

Friday, 16 November 2012 - Reported by John Bowman

Matt Smith as the Doctor, Children in Need 2012. Photo: BBC

The title of this year's Doctor Who Christmas special will be revealed tonight during the Children In Need telethon on BBC One.

As previously reported, the fund-raiser will be showing a bespoke storyline as a prequel to the special, as well as giving viewers a sneak preview of the special itself.

Now, in addition, the official site said today that the story title would be revealed and a glimpse would be given of what the Doctor will be facing in the Christmas episode.

The Children In Need broadcast begins at 7.30pm, with the prequel scheduled to air between then and 8pm and the trailer set to go out at some point between 8.30pm and 9pm, although these timings may change.

FILTER: - Charities - Series Specials - Broadcasting - Series 7/33

Children in Need: Publicity Photo

Wednesday, 14 November 2012 - Reported by Chuck Foster

The BBC have released a photo of Matt Smith as the Doctor as part of the publicity for this Friday's Children In Need on BBC1.

Doctor Who, featuring Matt Smith, will bring viewers an extra special 'prequel' to its Christmas special, with a bespoke storyline made for Children in Need, and an exclusive preview trailer of the Christmas special including the first glimpse of the Doctor with his new companion.

The segment is due to appear during the 8:30-9:00pm slot of the evening, though timings are invariably estimates due to the live nature of the programme.

FILTER: - Charities - Series Specials - Series 7/33

The Barry Newbery Signature Collection

Monday, 12 November 2012 - Reported by John Bowman

A book celebrating the work of Doctor Who set designer Barry Newbery has been brought out by Telos Publishing.

Newbery was one of the show's longest-serving designers, working on a large number of stories from the very beginning in 1963, with a pedigree that started with uncredited contributions to versions 1 and 2 of the pilot episode, followed by him becoming the credited designer on The Cave of Skulls, The Forest of Fear, and The Firemaker - episodes 2, 3, and 4 of the programme's first story - having taken over from Peter Brachacki. Newbery then worked on another 12 stories for five of the Doctors during the classic era, finishing with The Awakening, broadcast in 1984.

Designed by Paul Smith, who last year brought out The Wonderful Book of Doctor Who - 1965, The Barry Newbery Signature Collection is a 96-page, full-colour, coffee-table publication featuring many of Newbery's own photographs of his sets and designs. It is annotated with his descriptions and memories of his work on the series, and includes some set designs and sketches as well as many never-before-seen black-and-white and colour photographs, all of which have been cleaned up and colour-corrected.

David J Howe, of Telos Publishing, said:

Barry Newbery is one of the true unsung heroes of Doctor Who. Without him, the stories he worked on would not be so rich and memorable, and it was his role as designer on the original Sixties stories which helped to establish the show as a visual feast.

Back then, the designer did everything from the sets to the props to the monsters, and Barry's visual flair brought us the lavishness of Marco Polo, The Aztecs, and The Crusade, as well as the science-fiction stylings of The Dominators and The Invisible Enemy, and the gothic splendour of The Brain of Morbius and The Masque of Mandragora.

It's been an enormous pleasure to have worked with Barry and Paul to bring this book to fruition. We hope it's a fitting tribute to both the show and to one of its most significant contributors.

Two editions of the book are available. The standard paperback one can be bought here, and Telos Publishing has also brought out a deluxe, limited-edition hardback that comes with a limitation signature sticker signed by Newbery.

FILTER: - Merchandise - Books - Classic Series

DVD Update: The Reign of Terror BBFC Classifications

Thursday, 8 November 2012 - Reported by Chuck Foster

The British Board of Film Classification have listed features to be included on the DVD release of William Hartnell adventure The Reign of Terror, due out on 28th January.

FEATURE LIST ONE:

00:25:02:12  DON'T LOSE YOUR HEAD - 
             THE MAKING OF THE REIGN OF TERROR
00:04:09:05  THE REIGN OF TERROR - PHOTO GALLERY
00:03:36:19  THE REIGN OF TERROR - ANIMATION GALLERY

FEATURE LIST TWO:

00:01:02:00  DOCTOR WHO - THE FIRST DOCTOR RETURNS -
             THE REIGN OF TERROR (TRAILER)

Commentaries have been passed on all six episodes, including the two animated episodes four and five.

FILTER: - William Hartnell - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

DVD Update: Legacy Box BBFC Classifications

Thursday, 8 November 2012 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Though no formal details have been given for the UK DVD release of the Legacy Box (Region One details were released last month), the British Board of Film Classification have now passed the additional material that features in the set, plus their running times.

SHADA:

00:04:46:06 SHADA - PHOTO GALLERY
00:25:35:09 TAKEN OUT OF TIME - 
            THE MAKING AND BREAKING OF SHADA
00:12:41:20 SHADA - NOW AND THEN
00:27:46:01 STRIKE! STRIKE! STRIKE!
00:30:08:15 BEING A GIRL

MORE THAN 30 YEARS IN THE TARDIS:

00:25:57:14 REMEMBERING NICHOLAS COURTNEY 
00:13:29:06 DOCTOR WHO STORIES - PETER PURVES 
00:10:33:21 THE LAMBERT TAPES - SUCCESS STORY 
00:01:47:21 RICHARD MARTIN'S MEMORIES OF VERITY 
00:22:35:23 THOSE DEADLY DIVAS 
00:06:04:02 MORE THAN THIRTY YEARS IN THE TARDIS - PHOTO GALLERY

In addition, the six episodes comprising the 2003 animated version of the story, featuring Paul McGann as the Doctor, has also been passed (the final item most likely refers to the introductory 'episode' to the story that places it in context):

00:18:26:04 DOCTOR WHO - SHADA - EPISODE ONE
00:22:43:03 DOCTOR WHO - SHADA - EPISODE TWO
00:20:49:13 DOCTOR WHO - SHADA - EPISODE THREE
00:27:22:00 DOCTOR WHO - SHADA - EPISODE FOUR
00:24:18:21 DOCTOR WHO - SHADA - EPISODE FIVE
00:23:41:16 DOCTOR WHO - SHADA - EPISODE SIX
00:07:31:09 DOCTOR WHO - SHADA  (EPISODE LISTING)

Steve Roberts recently explained how the animated version is to be presented:

Just to clarify the reason that the McGann Shada is represented as a Flash animation rather than as DVD Video. Two reasons: Firstly, the animation was judged by all (including those who made it) to be not of sufficient quality for video. Secondly, it would have required a separate disc as there wasn't room on either of the others to include it - and that was an option that was outside of budget.

I thought it should be included however, as it's part of the official BBC canon by virtue of being broadcast (which is ironic, as the BBC Video version itself isn't!), so I worked closely with James Goss to package it into a form that could be viewed easily on an PC or Mac via a simple web interface.

The Legacy Box is due to be released on the 7th January in the UK(R2), and on the 8th January for North America(R1).

FILTER: - Tom Baker - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD - Paul McGann

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