BBC Worldwide ANZ have announced a partnership with television network ABC to open a special Commemorative Exhibition at the ABC Ultimo Centre in Sydney, Australia. The free exhibition opens on Thursday 15th August until Friday 31st January 2014 (see below for opening times), and will have a variety of props on display from the series, including the Tenth Doctor’s costume and Astrid's costume from Voyage of the Damned (as played by national superstar Kylie Minogue), plus the Fourth Doctor's scarf, an original Dalek, an iconic TARDIS, Ood head, and Cybermat amongst the many other exhibits.

Jon Penn, Managing Director, BBC Worldwide ANZ, said:
Mark Scott, ABC's Managing Director, said:

A wide variety of merchandise including exclusive souvenirs and collectables will be available from the ABC Shops and online.

BBC Worldwide have announced that the Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular is to once again take place in Australia, with three concerts to take place during January and February next year in Melbourne and Queensland, and the possibility of further performances in New Zealand.


The new Spectacular is currently scheduled for the following dates:

• 31st January (7:30pm) and 1st February (2:00pm) - Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
  Plenary Hall, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
  Bookings: 03 9929 9600 or visit www.mso.com.au
  
  
• 8th February - Queensland Symphony Orchestra
  Brisbane Entertainment Centre
  Bookings: 132 849 or visit ticketek.com.au/doctorwho

Composer Murray Gold said:
André Gremillet, Managing Director of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, said:
Sophie Galaise, CEO for Queensland Symphony Orchestra, said:

Helen Pendlebury, Head of Commercial, Entertainment and Children’s Brands, BBC Worldwide Australia & New Zealand commented:

The Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular is being presented in association with BBC Worldwide Australia and New Zealand. Tickets go on sale from the 6th August.

Sunday 4th August sees the broadcast of Doctor Who - The Movie, starring Paul McGann as the Eighth Doctor, on Australian and New Zealand television.

This screening represents the culmination of a chronological run through selected stories of the classic series, to mark the 50th Anniversary season of Doctor Who on the UKTV channel.

The story is scheduled to screen in Australia at 4:45pm and in New Zealand at 5:00pm with an additional screening in New Zealand on Monday 5th August at 3:40am.

The UKTV listing describes the story as follows:

The TARDIS arrives in San Francisco on New Year's Eve 1999. As the clock counts down to the start of the new millennium, can the Doctor stop his oldest enemy destroying all life on Earth?

The movie was first broadcast in Australia in July 1996 and in New Zealand in October of the same year.

The Doctor Who screenings lined up on UKTV for the remainder of August are entirely different for Australia and New Zealand.

Australia has: Doctor Who Proms (11th August), Doctor Who America Specials: The Science of Doctor Who and The Timey Wimey Stuff of Doctor Who (18th August), and Doctor Who America Specials: The Destinations of Doctor Who and The Women of Doctor Who (25th August).

Whereas New Zealand's line-up includes: The Dalek Invasion of Earth (11th August), The Three Doctors (18th August), and Pyramids of Mars (25th August). These are all repeats of stories previously screened on UKTV earlier this year.

Selected stories from the Ninth, Tenth and Eleventh Doctors' eras are expected to screen on UKTV in September, October and November this year.

Up-and-coming broadcasts from both 20th and 21st Century series of Doctor Who can be found via UKTV's Doctor Who sections for Australia and New Zealand.

Sunday 28th July sees the broadcast of the 1989 Sylvester McCoy stories, The Curse of Fenric and Survival on Australian and New Zealand television. The stories are presented as part of the 50th Anniversary season of Doctor Who on the UKTV channel.



In Australia The Curse of Fenric screens at 3:00pm and Survival at 5:00pm.

In New Zealand The Curse of Fenric screens at 3:25pm and Survival at 5:05pm with additional screenings on Monday 29th July at 2:55am and 4:35am respectively.

No billing information has been provided for The Curse of Fenric, but the listing for Survival describes the story as follows:

The Seventh Doctor brings Ace back to her home of Perivale. Her friends are being kidnapped by a race of alien hunters who were shown the way to Earth by the Doctor's old enemy the Master.

The two stories were first broadcast in New Zealand July-September 1990 and in Australia in November of the same year.

UKTV is showing stories throughout the year in the lead-up to the anniversary in November. Next week sees the broadcast of Doctor Who (the TV Movie) in both countries on 4th August.

Australia and New Zealand's schedules are entirely different for the remainder of August.

Australia has Doctor Who Proms (11 Aug), Doctor Who America Specials: The Science of Doctor Who and The Timey Wimey Stuff of Doctor Who (18 Aug), and Doctor Who America Specials: The Destinations of Doctor Who and The Women of Doctor Who.

New Zealand's line-up includes: The Dalek Invasion of Earth (11 Aug), The Three Doctors (18 Aug), and Pyramids of Mars (25 Aug).

Up-and-coming broadcasts from both 20th and 21st Century series of Doctor Who can be found via UKTV's Doctor Who sections for Australia and New Zealand.

.As previously reported, Splendid Chaps is a year-long performance/podcast project to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who hosted by comedian Ben McKenzie (Dungeon Crawl, Melbourne Museum Comedy Tour) and writer John Richards (ABC1 sitcom Outland, Boxcutters podcast)

Described by its creators as part intellectual panel discussion, part nerdy Tonight Show, Splendid Chaps is a combination of analysis, enthusiasm and irreverence. The first episode went to number 1 on the iTunes TV & Film Podcast chart in Australia, and to number 4 in the UK. The podcasts to previous episodes are now available at www.splendidchaps.com or at iTunes.

Tickets are now on sale for their Eighth Doctor show! Their eighth major episode brings them to the Doctor of the show’s “middle period” between classic and new Who - Paul McGann’s Eighth Doctor. A cult figure thanks to his starring role in Withnail and I (alongside alternate Ninth Doctor Richard E Grant), McGann was a popular choice and garnered much kudos for his performance – but almost nothing else about the American co-produced telemovie seemed to please audiences on either of the Atlantic, and no new series was produced. It’s a weird moment in the so-called “wilderness years” between old and new Who.

It is also National Science Week, so Splendid Chaps are also looking at science in Doctor Who. Ostensibly science fiction, and starting out life with an educational remit, Doctor Who originally alternated between trips to historical events and sci-fi tales that were meant to teach us about science. But amongst the mad scientists, wobbly grasp of concepts like “black hole”, “neutron” and “constellation”, and the rather more fantastical bent of the post-2005 show, does Doctor Who actually depict real science in any meaningful way? Does it champion the idea of being “sciencey”? What does it get wrong, what does it get right, and what can we learn from it about science in either case?

Hosts Ben McKenzie, John Richards and Petra Elliott will be joined by a panel of actual scientists including biologist and geneticist Jack Scanlan. Plus a musical performance, and all the usual prizes and surprises!

Space: upstairs, Bar Open, 317 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy
Time: Sunday, August 11; recording starts 5 PM
Accessibility: Splendid Chaps regret that this venue is not wheelchair accessible
Tickets: $15 (plus booking fee where applicable)
Bookings: via trybooking.com or at the door (subject to availability)
Podcast: not yet available; released 23 August 2013.

Sunday 21st July sees the broadcast of the 1988 Sylvester McCoy story, The Greatest Show in the Galaxy on Australian and New Zealand television. The story is presented as part of the 50th Anniversary season of Doctor Who on the UKTV channel.

The story screens at 4:30pm in Australia, and 4:40pm in New Zealand. The latter country has an additional screening on Monday 22nd July at 4:00am.

The UKTV billing describes the story as follows:

The Doctor & Ace head for the Psychic Circus on the planet Segonax, where they meet a disparate group of performers & visitors, including an explorer - Captain Cook.

The Greatest Show in the Galaxy was first broadcast in Australia in November 1989, and in New Zealand in April 1990.

UKTV is showing stories throughout the year in the lead-up to the anniversary in November. In July the focus is on Sylvester McCoy's Seventh Doctor. The remainder of the month's schedule includes: The Curse of Fenric and Survival (both 28 July).

Up-and-coming broadcasts from both 20th and 21st Century series of Doctor Who can be found via UKTV's Doctor Who sections for Australia and New Zealand.

Sunday 14th July sees the broadcast of the 1988 Sylvester McCoy story, Remembrance of the Daleks on Australian and New Zealand television. The story is presented as part of the 50th Anniversary season of Doctor Who on the UKTV channel.

The story screens at 4:20pm in Australia, and 4:40pm in New Zealand. The latter country has an additional screening on Monday 15th July at 4:05am.

The UKTV billing describes the story as follows:

Unusual events are unfolding at Coal Hill School & the Doctor discovers that the Daleks are on the trail of Time Lord technology which he left on Earth centuries ago.

Remembrance of the Daleks was first broadcast in Australia in 1988 (the last episode screened on 23rd November, marking the 25th anniversary). New Zealand did not get to see the story until February 1990.

UKTV is showing stories throughout the year in the lead-up to the anniversary in November. In July the focus is on Sylvester McCoy's Seventh Doctor. The rest of the month's schedule includes: The Greatest Show in the Galaxy (21 July); The Curse of Fenric and Survival (both 28 July).

Up-and-coming broadcasts from both 20th and 21st Century series of Doctor Who can be found via UKTV's Doctor Who sections for Australia and New Zealand.

The Fuse Box in Sydney, Australia is to play host to a new Doctor Who inspired stage production this coming September, as part of the 2013 Sydney Fringe.


Performances take place at 9:30pm on Wednesday 11th and 18th September, and Thursday 12th and 19th September. More details can be found via the Sydney Fringe website.

Sunday 7th July sees the broadcast of the 1987 Sylvester McCoy story, Paradise Towers on Australian and New Zealand television. The story is presented as part of the 50th Anniversary season of Doctor Who on the UKTV channel.

The story screens at 4:20pm in Australia, and 4:45pm in New Zealand. The latter country has an additional screening on Monday 8th July at 4:15am.

The UKTV billing describes Paradise Towers as follows:

The Doctor visits Paradise Towers only to find it ruined. It is inhabited by Rezzies, Kangs, Pex & Caretakers led by a Chief whose job is to keep the apartment complex in order.

Paradise Towers was first broadcast in Australia in 1988. New Zealand did not get to see it until 1990.

UKTV is showing stories throughout the year in the lead-up to the anniversary in November. In July the focus is on Sylvester McCoy's Seventh Doctor. The rest of the month's schedule includes: Remembrance of the Daleks (14 July); The Greatest Show in the Galaxy (21 July); The Curse of Fenric and Survival (both 28 July).

Up-and-coming broadcasts from both 20th and 21st Century series of Doctor Who can be found via UKTV's Doctor Who sections for Australia and New Zealand.

.As previously reported, Splendid Chaps is a year-long performance/podcast project to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who hosted by comedian Ben McKenzie (Dungeon Crawl, Melbourne Museum Comedy Tour) and writer John Richards (ABC1 sitcom Outland, Boxcutters podcast)

Described by its creators as part intellectual panel discussion, part nerdy Tonight Show, Splendid Chaps is a combination of analysis, enthusiasm and irreverence. The first episode went to number 1 on the iTunes TV & Film Podcast chart in Australia, and to number 4 in the UK.  The podcasts to previous episodes are now available at www.splendidchaps.com or at  iTunes.

Tickets are now on sale for their 7th Doctor show! This show discusses the seventh and final Doctor of what we now call the classic era, played by variety performer and actor Sylvester McCoy. Famous for escapology, spoon playing and putting ferrets down his trousers, McCoy’s casting raised a few eyebrows, but his performance changed many doubters’ minds – especially when combined with Sophie Aldred as Ace, and under the new direction provided by the incoming production team under Andrew Cartmel. Of course, no-one knew that the program’s days were numbered…

Splendid Chaps are also looking at the theme of “religion” in Doctor Who. The Doctor has been all across space and time and encountered zealots, fanatics, kindly priests, and beings who believed themselves to be gods or demons or the devil himself. But what does the program say about religion, faith and belief? Is the Doctor Who universe truly a rational one in which the supernatural is really just advanced science, or is The Beast really the Devil? Is faith worthwhile, and if so, what does the Doctor believe?

Hosts Ben McKenzie, John Richards and Petra Elliott are joined by guests including writer and game designer Paul Callaghan, comedian and television writer Dave Bloustien, and for their discussion of religion, the Reverend Dr Avril Hannah-Jones, Uniting Church minister and founder of the Church of the Latter Day Geek (as seen on Adam Hills In Gordon Street Tonight)! Plus a very special musical performance from the one and only Lee Zachariah, and all the usual prizes and surprises!

Space: The Public Bar, 238 Victoria Street, North Melbourne (opposite Victoria Markets)
Time: Sunday 14 July; recording starts 5 PM
Accessibility: This venue is wheelchair accessible.
Tickets: $15 (plus booking fee where applicable)
Bookings: via trybooking.com or at the door (subject to availability)
Podcast: not yet available; released 23 July 2013.