Big Finish on BBC7

Sunday, 24 July 2005 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

The BBC7 digital radio network (website) will air several adventures starring Paul McGann, the last actor in the role of the Doctor prior to the current television series, as created by Big Finish Productions, says a BBC Press Office release. "Russell T DaviesÆs Doctor Who has recently finished a successful run on BBC One with the ninth Doctor, Christopher Eccleston, at the helm of the Tardis. Now BBC 7 takes a step back in time to welcome The Doctor's eighth persona, as played by Paul McGann, in four new four-part adventures, beginning with Storm Warning." This is the first time Big Finish's Doctor Who serials written especially for CD will appear in broadcast format; the company had previously produced two of BBC Online's webcast serials. Four serials starring McGann -- Storm Warning by Alan Barnes, Sword of Orion by Nicholas Briggs, The Stones of Venice by Paul Magrs and Invaders From Mars by Mark Gatiss (which features Simon Pegg of "The Long Game") -- will be broadcast on consecutive Saturdays starting 6 August 2005 at 6.30pm, with repeats at 12.30am the following morning. The episodes have been edited for radio, with one particular plot thread (Ramsey, a Vortisaur in the Time Vortex) being excised. The broadcasts incorporate the first through third and fifth McGann stories produced (skipping 'Minuet in Hell').

FILTER: - Audio - Radio

Notes From Invasion

Sunday, 24 July 2005 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

Some details from this past weekend's Invasion V convention, where actors Noel Clarke (Mickey) and John Barrowman (Jack) appeared. Both actors said they would definitely be returning to the series, although there was no news for Barrowman on when; Noel would be joining the cast for the filming of the special, "The Christmas Invasion" on Monday. Mickey is revealed to be a car mechanic, and his character will be developed significantly (but, of course, Noel wasn't saying anything specific about this!)

Barrowman revealed that there were several endings originally planned for "The Parting of the Ways," some clearly before they knew they were going to regenerate the Doctor or get a sense of how successful the series would be, but in all versions Jack would not have immediately re-joined the crew (in fact, one early version ended with Rose actually dying from the effects of the Time Vortex!) Both said they'd had no idea Eccleston would be leaving. Another outtake from episode 13: apparently on the second take of Jack's farewell kiss, John kissed Billie as normal, and then, when it came to Chris, gave him a full-on snog...which Chris, getting the joke, just on followed through, with them both ending up, still entwined, rolling around on the floor, the cameraman desperately trying to keep up with them...

Barrowman said he has recorded commentaries for episodes 9, 10 and 11 (with Julie Gardner and Annette Badland) for the DVD boxed set due out in November, which will include commentaries on all 13 episodes. He doubted the shot excised from "Bad Wolf" (the 'bum shot') would make it to the DVD given the 12 certificate (though he hinted that a check of his website in the future wouldn't go unrewarded.

FILTER: - Conventions

Series Two News/Rumours

Sunday, 24 July 2005 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

As previously noted, filming on the second season of "Doctor Who" began Friday, July 22; here's a brief rundown of some of the news items and rumours Outpost Gallifrey has picked up over the past few days:

Studio work was done on the first day, as opposed to the location work done last year (which is why there are no on-location photos being taken with anything of importance, only some brief glimpses of production trailers). Piper and Tennant were spotted by the British press on Friday, hence the photograph at right (click for a larger view) showing the two leaving the studio in Newport. Word is that the production has already left Newport for location filming on Monday.

Several news reports suggest that Stephen Fry will be penning an episode of the new series as previously reported; Fry was said to be at the studio on Friday as production got underway.

Filming on Friday July 22 was said to take place at Tredegar House in Newport, where the Doctor Who team had filmed a scene with a Prime Minister. (No word as yet on whether Penelope Wilton is returning as Harriet Jones, but that could certainly be fun...)

There are rumours that an episode will be filmed at Duffryn High School in Newport at some point during August; speculation persists that this will have something to do with the (currently) third episode, "School Reunion".

Russell T Davies spoke recently on "Newsround" and said that "The Christmas Invasion" would involve a new monster as well as all the Christmas trimmings "including Reindeer and snow". He also mentioned that Rose would be finding difficult to come to terms with the new Doctor.

There are currently rumours circling - again, none confirmed - that one of the episodes is entitled "The Sunshine Camp," perhaps the first episode. As always, treat these as speculative in the absence of concrete information...

FILTER: - Production - Series 2/28

Eccleston's House of Obsessive Compulsives

Thursday, 21 July 2005 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

Christopher Eccleston narrates the two-part documentary "House of Obsessive Compulsives" following three sufferers of obsessive compulsive disorder who undergo a radical new treatment programme to try and regain control of their lives; it begins on Monday 1 August on UK Channel 4. (Thanks to Matt Nida)

Spirit Trap

July 21, 2005 • Posted By Shaun Lyon

Zeta Minor has published an interview with the director of "Spirit Trap", Billie Piper's new film due out in the UK on 12 August. (Thanks to Julian Knott)

FILTER: - People

New Series Toys

Thursday, 21 July 2005 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

The first batch of toys from Character Options is now due at the end of July and comprises a 12" Standard Dalek, Walkie Talkie figures of the Doctor and Rose, the Sonic Screwdriver, a 5" Dalek Battle Pack and a set of metal keyrings. A 12" (presumably exclusive) Toys æR' Us Dalek with claw is available from early August. The TARDIS money box, TARDIS phone flasher and more keyrings are scheduled for mid-August release. The 5" figures range start with the Ninth Doctor and Rose and will expand in 2006 to include the Tenth Doctor, monsters and characters from the series and "an awesome TARDIS playset".

FILTER: - Merchandise

The Doctor Who Annual 2006

Thursday, 21 July 2005 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

Published in August, details of the first Doctor Who Annual since 1985 have been featured in the latest DWM. The upcoming annual will feature "Mr Nobody", a comic strip by Scott Gray, John Ross and James Offredi, and four text stories: "The Masks of Makassar" by Paul Cornell; "What I Did on My Christmas Holidays" by Steven Moffat; "Doctor vs. Doctor" by Gareth Roberts; and "Pitter-Patter" by Robert Shearman. Russell T. Davies has contributed two features û "Meet the Doctor" and "Meet Rose" û and Benjamin Cook has a behind-the-scenes report. There will also be puzzles by Gareth Roberts and "a æWho's Who' by Philip MacDonald", as well as a frontispiece by Alister Pearson, "a full-colour illustration of the Doctor and Rose".

FILTER: - DWM - Books

Big Finish Update

Thursday, 21 July 2005 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

Big Finish have put up a few new covers, including the forthcoming fourteenth "Doctor Who" hardcover fiction anthology, Short Trips 14: Solar System edited by Gary Russell, due out in September; The Coming of the Queen, a novel featuring the audio companion Erimem's origins by Iain McLaughlin and Claire Bartlett, due in August; and Project: Valhalla by Cavan Scott and Mark Wright, a novel sequel to their "Doctor Who" audios "Project: Twilight" and "Project: Lazarus" due in September. Click on the thumbnails below for larger versions. Meanwhile, the story lineup for the fifteenth anthology book, Short Trips: The History of Christmas, edited by Simon Guerrier due in December, has been announced: "The Anchorite's Echo" by Scott Andrews; "Presence" by Peter Anghelides; "Set in Stone" by Charles Auchterlonie and John Isles; "Be Good for Goodness' Sake" by Samantha Baker; "Home Fires " by Jonathan Blum; "Face to Face" by Joff Brown; "The Thousand Years of Christmas" by Simon Bucher-Jones; "Saint Nicholas's Bones" by Xanna Eve Chown; "Ode to Joy" by Jonathan Clements; "The Gift" by Robert Dick; "The Revolutionaries" by John S. Drew; "Rome" by Shaun Lyon Flavin; "The Prodigal Sun" by Matthew Griffiths; "Christmas on the Moon" by Simon Guerrier; "Advent" by Peter Kempshall; "A Light in the Dark" by Joseph Lidster; "Nobody's Gift" by Kate Orman; "The Innocents" by Marc Platt; "The Long Midwinter" by Philip Purser-Hallard; "Not in My Back Yard" by Eddie Robson; "Callahuanca" by Richard Salter; "The Feast" by Stewart Sheargold; "The Church of Saint Sebastian" by Robert Smith; "The Lampblack Wars" by Matthew Sweet; and "Faithless" by Ben Woodhams. Big Finish have also announced Short Trips: Farewellsedited by Jacqueline Rayner for March 2006, Short Trips: The Centenarian edited by Ian Farrington due in September 2006, and two other volumes in June and December of next year.

FILTER: - Audio

New Series DVD Notes

Thursday, 21 July 2005 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

As reported by Radio Times yesterday, all thirteen episodes of Series One on the forthcoming Doctor Who: Series One Boxed Set DVD release in the UK in November will feature commentaries. The commentary for "The Unquiet Dead" will be by Mark Gatiss, Simon Callow and Euros Lynn; other commentaries as noted in the latest issue of Doctor Who Magazine will include Russell T. Davies, Julie Gardner and Phil Collinson, although more specific details are not yet available. DVD extras will include "Russell T. Davies' video diary of the first week of filming" and "Billie Piper's own camcorder footage". "Episode-specific featurettes" will include "Deconstructing Big Ben", "Destroying the Lair", "Blitzing London", "Designing Doctor Who" and "Building the Emperor Dalek". The DVD-exclusive episode of Doctor Who Confidential will appear on the fifth disc and will include a "sneak preview" of Series Two alongside highlights of the first series of Confidential.

FILTER: - Series 1/27 - Blu-ray/DVD - Radio Times

Design a Who Monster!

Thursday, 21 July 2005 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

The BBC's Blue Peter television series is running a contest for children fifteen and under to design a "Doctor Who" monster that will be featured in the programme's second series! "What's the scariest monster that you can imagine? Do you dare to let your imagination run wild? Put your scariest ideas onto paper and the winner of the best design sees their monster come alive on 'Doctor Who'! The winning monster design will be used in the second series of 'Doctor Who'. It has to be a prosthetic monster, that means that an actor has to be able to wear a mask or costume, no computer special effects required." There are three separate age groups and details listed on the Blue Peter website. "The overall winner will not only have their design brought to life by the 'Doctor Who' team and see their monster appear in one of the episodes of the new series, but they will also be taken to visit the 'Doctor Who' film set in Wales!"

FILTER: - Competitions

New Series Update

Thursday, 21 July 2005 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

Outpost Gallifrey has learned that production on the second series of "Doctor Who" begins this coming Friday, 22 July. Like last year, it is expected that the first day to several days will incorporate action sequences with the principal actors - Billie Piper and David Tennant - joining the production within the week. Locations have been scouted for the first production, The Christmas Invasion, which includes locations in Newport; as we previously reported, this will include Christmas-time decor in storefronts, and several area retailers have cooperated with the production.

Meanwhile, the latest issue of Doctor Who Magazine (issue #359) reports that David Tennant has been confirmed for both the second and third series, and talks are indeed underway with Elisabeth Sladen (as previously rumored) to be included in an episode. It does mention, however, that "[à The BBC] cannot comment any further at this point with regards to K9." Confirming the news that a third series was commissioned in June, producer Phil Collinson says that Jane Tranter and Julie Gardner (BBC head of drama and Doctor Who executive producer) "had forgotten to tell Russell [T. Davies] and I about the second Christmas Special. We didn't know until it was announced from the stage!" Davies comments that, able now to plan further ahead, he has already moved one scene from Series Two, Episode 1 into the third series (but emphasis that this does not mean that another regeneration is on the way).

The issue confirms the running order as it currently exists for the series, as well as confirms at elast one new title. Episodes 1 and 2 are written by Davies; episode two is tentatively entitled Tooth and Claw. Episode 3, School Reunion, is written by Toby Whithouse, with episode 4 by Steven Moffat, episodes 5 and 6 by Tom MacRae and episode 7 by Mark Gatiss. Episode 8 is The Satan Pit by Matt Jones, with Jones also penning episode 9. Episode 10 is by Davies, episode 11 will be written by a writer to be announced, and the last two are by Davies, with episode 12 entitled Army of Ghosts. James Hawes will direct "The Christmas Invasion" plus episodes 1 and 3, while Euros Lyn will direct episodes 2 and 4, and Graeme Harper episodes 5 and 6 as well as two others to be confirmed.

Also, replacement costume and make-up designers have been announced. Louise Page, whose previous credits include The Wedding Date and The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones, replaces Lucinda Wright as costume designer. The new make-up designer is one of the few members of the production team to have worked on the series during its original run: Sheelagh Wells provided the æageing' make-up for Nyssa and Tegan in "Mawdryn Undead" in 1983, as well as working on several series of Blake's 7. Page and Wells have also worked together before, on an episode of The Strangerers ("The Streets of Laredo", 2000).

FILTER: - Production - Series 2/28

Previous 10 Stories

Big Finish on BBC7

Notes From Invasion

Series Two News/Rumours

Eccleston's House of Obsessive Compulsives

New Series Toys

The Doctor Who Annual 2006

Big Finish Update

New Series DVD Notes

Design a Who Monster!

New Series Update

This Week in Doctor Who

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