Australian overnight ratings for Knock Knock & final ratings for Smile

Monday, 8 May 2017 - Reported by Adam Kirk
Knock Knock has debuted in Australia, averaging 417,000 viewers in the five major capital cities. The story was the second highest rating ABC drama of the day and the twelfth highest rating program of the day overallThese ratings do not include iview, regional or time-shifted viewers. The binaural edition of Knock Knock, with enhanced sound, is also now available on ABC iview.

Meanwhile, including time-shifted viewers, Smile averaged 574,000 consolidated viewers in the five major capital cities. With 110,000 extra viewers it was the highest time-shifted program of the day (the second highest time-shifted program had 104,000 extra viewers) and the eighth highest rating program of the day overallThese ratings do not include iview or regional viewers.




FILTER: - Australia - Broadcasting - Ratings - Series 10/36

New Audio Torchwood Series from Big Finish

Sunday, 7 May 2017 - Reported by Marcus
Torchwood Series 5 (Credit: Big Finish) Big Finish has announced that Torchwood will be back for a brand new series of audio adventures with Torchwood: Aliens Among Us...

The new series, revealed at the DWAS convention The Capitol II, will follow the events of Miracle Day, and will see the Torchwood team reunited. Captain Jack, Gwen and Rhys will be joined by new characters co-created and overseen by series creator Russell T Davies.

In this series, Captain Jack and Gwen Cooper have restarted Torchwood in Cardiff, home of the original Torchwood Three. But it's in a very different Cardiff. Something terrible's happened to the city. With every day getting darker, will Torchwood need to adopt a whole new approach?

Producer of Torchwood Season 5, James Goss, talked about the new Torchwood team and Russell T Davies’ involvement.
Russell's been wonderfully involved in the continuation of Torchwood. We came up with some characters and ideas and he very kindly, very politely said 'Marvellous, but no. Howabout...?'. And that's what lead to Jack and Gwen being joined by Mr Colchester (Paul Clayton), Ng (Alexandria Riley), Tyler (Jonny Green) and the enigmatic Orr (Sam Béart). Who are they? What part do they have to play in the future of Torchwood? And can they save Cardiff from an invasion that's already been lost?

This is an ambitious series for Big Finish - an entire season of Torchwood! There are some great scripts by some new writers, but there are also some familiar old faces - of course Rhys and Andy are in it, but there'll be a few other surprises, including an appearance by someone who just has to be, has to be dead...
This new series of Torchwood will be released in three boxsets, the first being out in August. Torchwood Series 5.2 will follow in October and 5.3 will complete the season in the new year.




FILTER: - Big Finish - Torchwood

Knock Knock - Press Reaction

Sunday, 7 May 2017 - Reported by Marcus
Knock Knock: Shireen (Mandeep Dhillon), Paul (Ben Presley), The Landlord (David Suchet), Bill (Pearl Mackie), Harry (Colin Ryan) (Credit: BBC/BBC Worldwide (screen grab))Press reaction to this week's Doctor Who episode Knock Knock is mixed. While many reviewers disagree about the strength of the writing, most are agreed on the quality of the performances in the story.

The Telegraph thought the acting plaudits belonged to the main guest star. "David Suchet playing the Landlord was brilliant casting. Just menacing enough as he mysteriously appeared without warning, smiling evilly in corners. Grey-haired and brown-suited, Suchet even looked ghostly. Never before has a tuning fork seemed so sinister."

Radio Times relished the creepy nature of the episode, but was disappointed by the ending. "For the first 35 minutes or so of Knock Knock I’m enthralled. Unfortunately, it showed signs of collapsing like a soufflé during the denouement...... I’d have been far happier with an unhappy ending. And yet I’m dismayed that, as the house crumbles, Bill loses all her knick-knacks, including the treasured photos of her mum that the Doctor sourced for her only weeks ago.

Den of Geek takes the opposite view, preferring the last third of the story. "Appreciating that some aren’t happy when Doctor Who goes emotional in its story wrap-ups, the fact that David Suchet’s mysterious landlord is actually the son of the woman we assumed to be his daughter is a very well earned, impactful piece of storytelling. I like that it works as a twist, but mostly, that it works because it adds real tenderness to the story."

The Mirror felt the episode to be the weekest of the season so far, feeling the character of The landlord was confusing. "Rather than allowing the bad guy of the week to be wonderfully creepy, he gets a 180 in the last few minutes to try and make us sympathise with him. But again, you can’t go killer madman to poor boy trying to save his mother in 3 minutes flat. Frankly, if you bag an actor of such calibre you can't waste him on a character that chops and changes."

Games Radar felt the writing was disapointing after last week's triumph. "The flat story is elevated slightly by David Suchet’s masterful acting, and Bill coming out as bluntly as possible does provide an air-punch moment. But even those stand-outs can’t redeem the overall limp writing. "

Flickering Myth disagreed. "When Doctor Who aims to frighten you, it really knows where those dark corners are in your mind, where you keep those little things you don’t like in your own cozy home, and brings them into light for everyone to see and to watch you leap two foot off your sofa. In this latest episode of Series 10, written by Mike Bartlett, you’re seriously going to be considering screwing down that creaking floorboard outside your bathroom by the end of it."

Carter Matt also enjoyed the story. "What was so fascinating about this story was that the more we saw of it, the more apparent that it became that this was not a story about good and evil; it was a story in some ways about a sacrifice, and what a father was able to do for his daughter. "

AV Club appreciated the style of the story. "Rarely does Doctor Who embrace another genre as completely as the first 30 minutes of “Knock Knock” does. For the first two thirds of its running time, tonight’s episode is a horror movie, with all the customary trappings. There’s the spooky haunted house with the still spookier landlord. There’s a bunch of thinly sketched young people who are all possibly idiots. There are loud noises and eerie music and windows and doors shutting all by themselves. If anything, it’s all a bit old-fashioned, in the best possible way."

Ars Technica praised the effects in the episode. "The storyline is a bit horror-by-numbers as one by one Bill's pals are bumped off by the alien woodlice. The on-screen effect is pretty grim, if thoroughly gripping, and reminds me of the carnivorous scarabs in The Mummy."

Digital Spy also felt the effects were well realised. "The episode is admirably daring when it comes to its scares, throwing up some genuinely disturbing visuals, particularly the sight of a pained Pavel (Bart Suavek) half-eaten by the house, and of a screaming Harry (Colin Ryan) being eaten alive by the Dryads."

Screen Rant looked at the themes behind the current series. "Weighing the life of one against the lives of many has been a recurring theme during Capaldi’s tenure as the Doctor, and with ‘Knock Knock’ the series places the Time Lord in a more intimate situation, almost like it’s a test to see what he’ll do when faced with a group of twentysomethings trapped in what appears to be a haunted house"

Nerdist also picked up the horror in the story. "One of the show’s main goals since the beginning was to scare people senseless. Monstrous aliens are part and parcel of the show’s success, and that often sends people “behind the sofa.” This week’s “Knock Knock” fits right in that genre…for good and ill."

IGN returned to the relationship between The Doctor and his new companion. "I enjoyed “Knock Knock” from the get-go, particularly -- as usual -- due to the Doctor’s interactions with Bill, as we see her here slightly embarrassed by the weird old fella around her new friends. This is her granddad helping her move, she insists, but no, he says, he’s her dad. Can’t we at least say I’m the dad?"

Link to Doctor Who News Review




FILTER: - Big Finish - Torchwood

Knock Knock - Overnight Viewing Figures

Sunday, 7 May 2017 - Reported by Marcus
Knock Knock The Landlord (DAVID SUCHET) (Credit: BBC/BBC Worldwide (Jon Hall))Doctor Who - Knock Knock had an overnight viewing audience of 4.32 million viewers, a share of 24.9% of the total TV audience, according to unofficial figures. Doctor Who increased its audience by half a million from the previous week.

Top for the day was once more the ITV variety show Britain's Got Talent with 9.35 million viewers. Doctor Who was top for BBC One for the evening, with Pointless Celebrities getting 4.20 million watching, while Casualty managed 4.02 million.




FILTER: - Press - Series 10/36

Philip Hinchcliffe Honoured by DWAS

Saturday, 6 May 2017 - Reported by Marcus
Philip Hinchcliffe receives an award from Jeremy Bentham (Credit: Nick Salmond / News in Time and Space Ltd)Former Doctor Who producer Philip Hinchcliffe has been honoured with an award for outstanding contribution to the programme, presented by the Doctor Who Appreciation Society, or DWAS.

Hinchcliffe was the producer of Doctor Who from 1975-1977, one of its most fondly remembered periods. He was producer while the DWAS was being formed by a group of students, anxious to discuss and celebrate their favourite programme.

Presenting the award at the DWAS convention, The Capitol, being held in Crawley, one of the founder members of the society, Jeremy Bentham spoke of the support the fledgling organisation had received from the Hinchcliffe and the BBC. That support helped enable the group to grow from a small college based club, to become a national society approved by the BBC. The group had been invited to visit the production office to meet the team and to discusses the series. A mention in the Radio Times in the listing for Masque of Mandragora, brought huge numbers of new membership applications.

Accepting the award Philip Hinchcliffe said.
I cherish this from true early fans. I remember Jeremy and his companions coming into my office. think I recognised their courage and the fact they had found something special in the programme. Thank you very much.
Script writer Bob Baker was also presented with an award for outstanding contribution to Doctor Who for his work on the series, in particular his creation of K-9, who celebrates his 40th Anniversary later this year.




FILTER: - Awards/Nominations - Classic Series

New K-9 Design revealed

Saturday, 6 May 2017 - Reported by Marcus
The new design for The Doctor's favourite tin dog, K-9 has been revealed at the DWAS convention being held this weekend in Sussex.

The robot dog will feature in a new movie, TimeQuake, due to be released next year.

The new design was unveiled by the Robot's creator, Bob Baker and by Paul Tams, the producer of the upcoming film and one of the men behind the Australian TV series K-9

The new film will see the robot dog battle against Omega, another character created by Bob Baker along with his late partner Dave Martin.

The new design was created using a 3D printer using the films CGI model as a blueprint. It was unveiled at the Doctor Who Appreciation Society Event, The Capitol, being held in Crawley, West Sussex, this weekend.




FILTER: - K9

Knock Knock - Introductions

Saturday, 6 May 2017 - Reported by Marcus

Knock Knock: Known Broadcast Details
United KingdomBBC OneSat 6 May 20177:20pm BST
Middle EastBBC FirstSat 6 May 20179:20pm AST(Sat 7:20pm BST)
United States of AmericaBBC AmericaSat 6 May 20179:00pm EDT(Sun 2:00am BST)
CanadaSPACESat 6 May 20179:00pm EDT(Sun 2:00am BST)
FinlandYLE2Sun 7 May 201711:00am EEST(Sun 9:00am BST)
AustraliaABCSun 7 May 20177:40pm AEST(Sun 10:40am BST, also on ABC ME)
BrazilSyFySun 7 May 20178:00pm BRT(Sun 11:00pm BST)
Latin AmericaSyFySun 7 May 201711:00pm CDT(Mon 4:00am BST)
New ZealandPRIMESun 7 May 20177:30pm NZST(Mon 8:30am BST)

A special 3D sound mix of this week’s episode makes it feel as if you’re part of the action, according to a group of Welsh students.

Speaking at an exclusive screening of the binaural audio edition of episode four, Knock Knock, the students called it a great experience, saying the enhanced version sounds as if at any minute the monsters could be coming after you.

The enhanced binaural audio episode will be available on BBC iPlayer immediately after the adventure premieres on BBC One and BBC One HD from 8.10pm on Saturday, 6 May. Viewers can find it by searching Doctor Who Enhanced on BBC iPlayer or visiting: www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwhoenhanced

The binaural edition creates a 3D surround soundscape for anyone wearing headphones, placing the audience at the heart of the action while the bumps, scrapes, shrieks and screams echo around them as if they were actually there. To create the enhanced version, the team used new software developed by BBC Research & Development to artificially mimic the subtle effect the shape of the viewer’s head and ears have on what they hear. This lets sound engineers give the impression of specific sounds like the creaks and groans of the old house in Knock Knock being in front, behind, or all around viewers.

Brian Minchin, executive producer, Doctor Who, said:
Mike Bartlett’s episode 'Knock Knock' is perfect for 3D sound as it’s set in a creepy house where creaks might kill you! What you can hear, and where it comes from is extremely important. The binaural audio edition enhances the fun and the scares throughout Knock Knock.
Catherine Robinson, audio supervisor at BBC Wales, said:
The software BBC R&D have created enables us to completely immerse viewers in this extremely atmospheric episode. People will be able to hear the surround sound mix the way our engineers hear it in the studio, without the need for acres of cables, speakers and stands in their lounge. And as they can watch with a normal pair of headphones, they can experience the 3D audio wherever they want to watch this episode




FILTER: - Production - Series 10/36

Doctor Who Official Block

Friday, 5 May 2017 - Reported by Marcus

Nerd Block, in association with BBC Worldwide, is launching the Doctor Who Official Block.

Subscribers will be able to receive exclusive and limited edition collectibles from their favorite Time Lords. The bi-monthly Block will include 5-7 mystery items each month, allowing fans to get their hands on official Doctor Who merchandise.

This month’s Block features an exclusive 6.5" Tenth Doctor figure, inspired by the Tenth Doctor's final episode The End of Time Part Two.

Doctor Who Official Block Lead Buyer Nicole Giffen explains her choice to include the figure in the first Block:
David Tennant is one of the most-beloved Doctors, so we couldn’t wait to include an exclusive variant figure of the Tenth Doctor in our Block. Showing the Doctor in his battle-worn state is an ode to the episode The End of Time Part Two, where he fights against the returning Time Lords. It’s one of my favorite scenes, and the figure captures the Doctor perfectly.
James Watson of Titan Merchandise had more details about the Battle Deco Tenth Doctor vinyl figure:
We're big David Tennant fans, and we wanted something special for the first Doctor Who Block. We wanted to give the fans something that would look great on a shelf (hence the larger scale) as well as pay tribute to an iconic moment in the show's history
Watson also talked about future plans for the project.
We will be announcing our next Doctor Who blind-box wave very soon. I can't say too much, but it'll cover the show's history and will feature some characters that we have been asked about for YEARS! I've seen the designs and I'm incredibly excited to reveal them. We're all colossal Doctor Who fans. There's a real joy in being able to produce actual physical pieces of all my favourite characters.
Visit nerdblock.com/doctor-who to get more details.




FILTER: - Merchandise - Tenth Doctor

Doctor Who Series 10: Blu-ray/DVD releases

Friday, 5 May 2017 - Reported by Chuck Foster
BBC Worldwide have released details on the forthcoming DVD/Blu-ray sets for the current series of Doctor Who:

Doctor Who Series 10: Part 1 on DVD/Bluray (Credit: BBC Worldwide) Doctor Who Series 10: Part 2 on DVD/Bluray (Credit: BBC Worldwide)
Series 10 artcards (Credit: BBC Worldwide)
Series 10, Peter Capaldi’s final series as the Doctor, will be available to buy in two parts on DVD and Blu-ray, as well as a complete version releasing later this year. Both Parts 1 and 2 are now available for pre-order from Amazon, iTunes and HMV.

Released on the 29th May, Part 1 will cover episodes 1-6 of the Doctor’s latest adventures. The Doctor is keen to show his new friend, Bill Potts, the wonders of the universe, but loveable android Nardole reminds him of an oath he has taken to guard the contents of a mysterious vault.

Part 2, released on 17th July, features episodes 7-12 in which the Doctor’s travels bring him face-to-face with Ice Warriors and Cybermen. His adventures draw to a terrifying conclusion as a long lost face from the past returns.

Both Parts will also include six, exclusive art-cards, which are themed to each episode.

Bonus material for both Parts 1 and 2 will include an Inside Look feature for each of the twelve episodes. The episodic features will include behind the scenes footage; cast interviews and the inside story.


Full details of bonus material for the Complete Series DVD & BD will be announced in due course and will include the Binaural Sound edition of episode 4, Knock, Knock. Binaural Sound gives an immersive spatial sound experience for headphone listeners.




FILTER: - BBC Worldwide - Blu-ray/DVD - Merchandise - Peter Capaldi - Series 10/36

Competition Roundup

Thursday, 4 May 2017 - Reported by Chuck Foster
A roundup of competitions now open for entry - all competitions are open worldwide with a closing date of Sunday 14th May.

Event: win tickets to Missing Who [visit event website

Missing Who (Credit: Fantom Films)From the epic journeys of Marco Polo, through the sandswept landscape of Troy, the Dalek infested colony of Vulcan, to the weed controlled oil rigs of the North Sea; many of Doctor Who's greatest adventures no longer exist for us to watch. There are currently 97 missing episodes of Doctor Who; this day will look at these lost tales, and the stories of those returned to the archives, with the stars who appeared in the them, the crew who made them, the team who restored them, and the valiant work of those who have returned them. We shall also be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the television debut of Deborah Watling as scream queen Victoria Waterfield, who first appeared in episode two of The Evil of the Daleks, broadcast on this day in 1967!
We are delighted to be able to offer readers a chance to win two tickets to the Missing Who convention, which takes place at Watersmeet, High Street, Rickmansworth, WD3 1EH, United Kingdom on Saturday 27th May 2017. The competition is open worldwide, but is only applicable to the tickets themselves - entrants must be able to make their own way to the venue.

To enter, simply send an email with your name, address and where you heard about the competition (news site, news app, other website, etc.) to comp-fantom@doctorwhonews.net with the subject "I want them returned!". Only one entry per household will be accepted.

Audio Download: Philip Hinchcliffe Presents: The Helm Of Awe [pre-order from Amazon UK

Philip Hinchcliffe, acclaimed producer of Doctor Who (1975-77) returns to tell new stories for the Fourth Doctor and Leela. The TARDIS arrives on the remote Shetland isle of Bothness and the Doctor and Leela find themselves threatened by Vikings! Only all is not as it seems. The locals are celebrating the old Norse fire festival of Up Helly Aa, so there’s nothing to be worried about. Or is there? For, unknown to the islanders, the TARDIS crew are on the trail of an ancient artefact invested with mysterious powers that has recently been stolen and brought to this remote location. Somewhere on this island lurks something ancient, and evil, and alien. The Doctor and Leela will have to stop it. Only on this occasion time might not be on their side.
Philip Hinchcliffe Presents: The Helm Of Awe (Credit: Big Finish)To be in with a chance to win a digital download of the audio adventure courtesy of Big Finish, simply answer the following question:
Name a televised story that was based in Scotland.
Please send your answer along with your name and the email address you have registered with Big Finish, plus where you heard about the competition (news site, news app, other website, etc.) to comp-php@doctorwhonews.net with the subject "Hello!". Note: entrants must have an active registration with Big Finish in order to be eligible to receive the prize - new registrations can be easily created on the website for free and with no financial obligation. There is also a free Big Finish app for Apple and Android.

DVD: MythMakers: Matthew Waterhouse [order from Galaxy 4

"Going from CASTROVALVA to FOUR TO DOOMSDAY to KINDA...those stories are all very distinctive, all very different to each other...and all really effective in different ways" MATTHEW WATERHOUSE is best known for playing the alien teenage mathematician ADRIC in two seasons of the original run of DOCTOR WHO, the youngest companion in the history of the series. In the years since, he has continued to work extensively as an actor in the theatre and in DOCTOR WHO and DARK SHADOWS for BIG FINISH. He is also the author of five books, including a bestseller about DOCTOR WHO and a collection of stories SUGAR. In this MYTH MAKERS, ROBERT DICK takes MATTHEW back to the locations used for the DOCTOR WHO story BLACK ORCHID and delves deep into this rich history, bringing out an evocative and candid interview about working on classic DOCTOR WHO
MythMakers: Matthew Waterhouse (Credit: Reeltime Productions)We are delighted to be able to offer readers a chance to win a signed copy of the DVD courtesy of Galaxy 4; simply answer the following question:
What was the name of Matthew Waterhouse's autobiography?
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-mw@doctorwhonews.net with the subject "Was I right?". Only one entry per household will be accepted.

BBC Audio: Four To Doomsday [order from Amazon UK

Matthew Waterhouse narrates this novelisation of a classic 1982 TV serial featuring the Fifth Doctor, as played on TV by Peter Davison. When the TARDIS materialises on an alien spacecraft, the commander of the ship - the reptilian Monarch - invites the Doctor, Adric, Nyssa and Tegan to continue their journey to Earth in his company. Monarch's hospitality even extends to a generous offer to liberate the time travellers from the shortcomings of their bodies and replicate them as androids - so much more practical. Although Adric finds this proposal extremely attractive, the Doctor has good reason to be suspicious of Monarch's motives....
Doctor Who - Four To Doomsday (Credit: BBC Audio)To be in with a chance to win the audiobook courtesy of BBC Audio, simply answer the following question:
What was the name of the surveillance devices used by Monarch on his ship?
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-fourtodoomsday@doctorwhonews.net with the subject "Flesh Time". Only one entry per household will be accepted.

BBC Audio: The Mind of Evil [order from Amazon UK

Richard Franklin narrates the exciting novelisation of a classic TV adventure featuring the Third Doctor, as played byJon Pertwee. Eminent scientist Emil Keller has developed a revolutionary new process for the treatment of hardened criminals. His invention, the Keller Machine, is being heralded as a major scientific breakthrough. But Professor Keller is in truth the Master, and the Keller Machine is much more than a mere machine. Soon the Doctor, Jo, the Brigadier and UNIT are involved in a bitter struggle with the Master, an alien mind parasite, and a diabolical scheme to plunge the world into a Third World War....
Doctor Who - The Mind Of Evil (Credit: BBC Audio)To be in with a chance to win the audiobook courtesy of BBC Audio, simply answer the following question:
Name the (credited) member of UNIT who only appears in this story and the following The Claws of Axos.
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-mindofevil@doctorwhonews.net with the subject "Keller's fancy". Only one entry per household will be accepted.

BBC Audio: The Classic TV Adventures Collection One [order from Amazon UK

Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker star as the Doctor in these seven narrated full-cast TV soundtracks of classic Doctor Who TV serials. The stories are 'The Tomb of the Cybermen' (narrated by Frazer Hines); 'Doctor Who and the Silurians' (narrated by Caroline John); 'The Sea Devils' (narrated by Katy Manning); 'The Curse of Peladon' (narrated by Katy Manning); 'The Monster of Peladon' (narrated by Elisabeth Sladen); 'The Pirate Planet' (narrated by John Leeson); and 'Destiny of the Daleks' (narrated by Lalla Ward). Also includes bonus interviews with the narrators in which they each recall their time as the Doctor's companion in the BBC TV series.
Doctor Who: Classic TV Adventures - Collection One (Credit: BBC Audio)To be in with a chance to win the audiobook courtesy of BBC Audio, simply answer the following question:
Tomb of the Cybermen was originally narrated by somebody other than Frazer Hines - who was that person?
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-classictv@doctorwhonews.net with the subject "Easy Listening". Only one entry per household will be accepted.

BBC Audio: The Lost Planet [order from Amazon UK

Nicola Bryant reads an exciting original story featuring the 12th Doctor, as played on TV by Peter Capaldi, and his companions Brandon and Alex.The TARDIS is under attack. Alien plants have taken root in its corridors, strange flowering tendrils that threaten to rip the Doctor’s ship apart. New companions Brandon and Alex venture into the heart of the TARDIS to discover the source of the infestation. Instead they find a secret door, and a forgotten world. The Doctor has unfinished business with the Arborites, living trees with long memories. Centuries ago he fought to prevent a galactic catastrophe - but now his past has come back to haunt him in ways he never thought possible. Can the Time Lord rescue his young friends before they are destroyed by his past mistakes, or will Hirolth rise to leave utter devastation in its wake?
The Lost Planet (Credit: BBC Audio)To be in with a chance to win the audiobook courtesy of BBC Audio, simply answer the following question:
Name another story which featured sentient trees.
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-lostplanet@doctorwhonews.net with the subject "Haunted Memories". Only one entry per household will be accepted.




FILTER: - BBC Audio - Big Finish - Competitions