Stories wanted for charity Doctor Who anthologyBookmark and Share

Sunday, 13 April 2014 - Reported by John Bowman
Short stories are being sought for an unofficial Doctor Who anthology that will raise money for charity.

The Vancouver-based outfit Pencil Tip Publishing is bringing out The Temporal Logbook, featuring original Doctor Who fiction by new and upcoming writers. The stories will involve the first 11 Doctors - by this it means as portrayed by William Hartnell through to Matt Smith and not including The War Doctor - in a series of adventures across space and time. All proceeds will go to the Positive Living Society of British Columbia, which is dedicated to empowering people who have HIV/Aids.
It's been said that Doctor Who has one of the most flexible formats in television drama. With the basic premise of an alien who travels throughout space and time in a box that is bigger inside than out, and which is disguised as a 1960s police public call box, it can't get much simpler than that. One week the show can be a gothic horror, the next it can be a comedic satire, while the next it could be a base-under-siege thriller – the possibilities are endless.
The deadline for submissions is midnight Pacific Daylight Time on Saturday 28th June. They should be between 3,000 and 7,500 words, in English, and not have been published elsewhere already. Stories should be sent for consideration via e-mail to penciltippublishing@shaw.ca. The same address can be used for queries as well.

Authors must submit just one story at a time, and must also include a covering letter that includes their full name, age, e-mail address, home address, story word count, and story title. In addition, people should include a brief biography about themselves as well as their publishing history plus any other relevant information.

Full submission guidelines are detailed here, and the FAQs page is here.

The Temporal Logbook will feature one story per Doctor, and the successful authors will each receive one complimentary copy of it. Pencil Tip says that it is "tentatively aiming" to publish the book in late-2014.

Yesterday, it was announced that the editors of the compendium will be Rob Mammone, Bob Furnell and Jez Strickley.




FILTER: - Canada - Books - Charities

Farewell to Matt Smith on UK channel Watch this EasterBookmark and Share

Sunday, 13 April 2014 - Reported by Melad Moshiri
Christmas Special 2013 - Promotional Image (Credit: BBC America) BBC America's A Farewell to Matt Smith special is to air on UK television on digital channel Watch this Easter.

The programme, initially broadcast on the US network celebrating the 11th Doctor actor's time on Doctor Who, will be shown in the UK on Good Friday at 5:00pm.

Narrated by Alex Kingston, it sees contributions from her, David Tennant, Karen Gillan, Arthur Darvill, Jenna Coleman and Steven Moffat alongside fans of Matt Smith and his incarnation of the Time Lord.

As part of the run-up, Radio Times have released a two-minute preview clip concerning the actor's relationship with his fans.

An audience of 1.54 million viewers watched the special on its original transmission before The Time of the Doctor's airing, more recently included as an extra on Time's DVD/Blu-rays.






FILTER: - BBC America - UK - Matt Smith

Subscriptions open for new Doctor Who ComicsBookmark and Share

Sunday, 13 April 2014 - Reported by Marcus
Print subscriptions are now open for the two new Doctor Who comic series Doctor Who: The Tenth Doctor and Doctor Who: The Eleventh Doctor, which will be published on July 23, 2014.

Please note that although these titles are available in print and digital in the US, Canada, New Zealand and Australia, due to rights issues, only digital copies will be available in the UK and Eire.

The Tenth Doctor comic series: Early Bird Offer!
  • US Residents: Get 15 issues for $53.99 – saving 10% off the cover price. Plus receive a FREE Tenth Doctor Titan figure!
  • Canadian Residents: Get 15 issues for $63.99 – saving 10% off the cover price.
  • New Zealand and Australia Residents: Get 15 issues for $153.99 – saving 10% off the cover price (includes $100 shipping and handling fee!).

The Eleventh Doctor comic series: Early Bird Offer!
  • US Residents: Get 15 issues for $53.99 – saving 10% off the cover price. Plus receive a FREE Eleventh Doctor Titan figure!
  • Canadian Residents: Get 15 issues for $63.99 – saving 10% off the cover price.
  • New Zealand and Australia Residents: Get 15 issues for $153.99 – saving 10% off the cover price (includes $100 shipping and handling fee!).





FILTER: - Doctor Who - Canada - USA - Comics - New Zealand - Australia

Doctor Who nominated for Freesat AwardBookmark and Share

Friday, 11 April 2014 - Reported by Marcus
The 50th Anniversary Doctor Who episode, Day of the Doctor, has been nominated in the Best of British category at the 2014 Freesat awards.

The awards celebrate all that's great about Free TV in the UK, and are judged by a panel of industry experts.

The awards are produced in association with TV Times and the winners will be announced on the 17th June 2014.

Best of British Nominees
  • Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor - BBC One
  • Sherlock – BBC One
  • Strictly Come Dancing – BBC One
  • Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway – ITV
  • Downton Abbey – ITV




FILTER: - Awards/Nominations

Statement from Philip MorrisBookmark and Share

Friday, 11 April 2014 - Reported by Marcus
Television International Enterprises Archives Ltd have issued a statement on their Facebook page on the recovery of missing Doctor Who episodes.

The company, led by Philip Morris, was responsible for the recovery of nine missing Troughton episodes last year. Episodes found at a relay station in the Nigerian city of Jos.

Since then there have been many rumours of more episodes being discovered, prompting much discussion on twitter and in fan forums. However, as yet, no more episodes have been confirmed as being returned to the BBC. The statement from TIEA pledges that they will endeavour to return any missing programmes while stating this is not their main purpose. Morris finishes the statement by saying Stay Tuned..

A list of current missing Doctor Who episodes can be seen on the Doctor Who Guide

Statement from Television International Enterprises Archives Ltd

T.I.E.A understands the passion felt by Doctor Who fans and that looking for missing episodes of Doctor who plus many other shows is an important but tiny part of the work that T.I.E.A does.The main aim of this organisation is to assist those archives whose own cultural heritage is under threat.If any programmes do still exist T.I.E.A will endeavor to recover them safely as with web of fear and enemy of the world.T.I.E.A are not sponsored by any organisation we are a completely independent body we work alongside many organisations such as the B.F.I.

However as much as people want specific programmes found wishing them into existence or starting rumors will not magically return them .Individuals trying to extract information which does not exist or is commercially confidential will be deleted unread any legitimate inquires for T.I.E.A LTD services are welcome.

Stay Tuned. Executive Director Philip Morris.




FILTER: - Classic Series

Derrick Sherwin autobiography to be published in AprilBookmark and Share

Wednesday, 9 April 2014 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Fantom Publishing are to release the autobiography of Doctor Who producer Derrick Sherwin later this month.

Derrick Sherwin: Who's Next - A Memoir (book) (Credit: Fantom Publishing)Derrick Sherwin: Who's Next - A Memoir

In a long and varied career, Derrick Sherwin has been an actor, writer, script editor, TV producer... and also a house builder and renovator, bar owner, restaurateur and bungee-jump proprietor!

In 1968 he joined the production team of Doctor Who as assistant story editor during the Patrick Troughton era, and went on to become the programme’s script editor and eventually its producer. During this time Sherwin commissioned Robert Holmes’ first script for the series; oversaw the transition from black-and-white to colour and the introduction of the Third Doctor, Jon Pertwee; was instrumental in conceiving the Earth-bound aspect of Pertwee’s era; and is credited with creating two of Doctor Who’s most enduring ingredients: the intelligence taskforce UNIT, and the Doctor’s own race – the Time Lords. He is now the earliest producer of Doctor Who still living.

In this candid and unflinching memoir, Sherwin discusses the pressures of writing and producing a cult science-fiction TV show for a family audience, his subsequent experience as an independent producer and creator of TV formats, and his ‘new life’ in one of the world’s most exotic countries: Thailand.

Copies of the book, which will include the author's signature, are available for pre-order via the Fantom website.





FILTER: - Auto/Biography - Books

New police box unveiled in BoscombeBookmark and Share

Tuesday, 8 April 2014 - Reported by John Bowman
The new police box in Boscombe was officially revealed to the public today in front of a large enthusiastic crowd.

Dorset Police Band entertained onlookers beforehand and then it was time for Bournemouth East MP Tobias Ellwood to deliver a speech before unveiling the steel-framed construction, which is based on the iconic 1929 design created by Gilbert Mackenzie Trench for the Metropolitan Police and subsequently used in Doctor Who.

Clouds of dry ice poured out of the box as it was opened.

Former Bournemouth AFC forward Steve Fletcher was among those present, as were Inspector Chris Weeks and Sgt Chris Amey, who both have responsibilities for the area and have previously spoken about the policing and tourism benefits of having the box. Also there was Dorset Police Federation chairman Tony Tester who, as he set off for the event, tweeted: "Off to the launch of the new police box this morning by car not time travel."

The MP said:
Boscombe has had its challenges with anti-social behaviour but it is a vibrant community. The box itself is now a fantastic, iconic symbol of a desire by the police and the community to be very optimistic about where this part of Bournemouth is going.

A report by ITV station Meridian about the police box's opening is available to watch via this link. Doctor Who News reader Nick Joy was interviewed for it and he took the pictures below:


For more photos, see Dorset Police's Twitter feed.
With Thanks To Nick Joy




FILTER: - UK - Miscellaneous

The Radio Times: BAFTA coversBookmark and Share

Tuesday, 8 April 2014 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Doctor Who makes the front cover of the Radio Times once again as the magazine celebrates this year's BAFTA Nominations. As mentioned yesterday, the Radio Times Audience Award is open to the public vote over which of Doctor Who (The Day of the Doctor), Broadchurch, Educating Yorkshire, Gogglebox, Breaking Bad, and The Great British Bakeoff is the best British drama over the last year.

As well as the latest Matt Smith/Jenna Coleman cover joining a Doctor Who collection way exceeding 50 in recent years, actor David Tennant has adorned over 20 himself, this time alongside Olivia Colman to represent writer Chris Chibnall's crime drama Broadchurch!

Radio Times (12-18 Apr 2014) - Doctor Who cover (Credit: Radio Times) Radio Times (12-18 Apr 2014) - Broadchurch cover (Credit: Radio Times)

Readers can vote for Doctor Who their favourite drama via the Radio Times website.





FILTER: - Matt Smith - Jenna Coleman - David Tennant - Awards/Nominations - Radio Times

German Blu-ray release for An Adventure in Space and TimeBookmark and Share

Tuesday, 8 April 2014 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Polyband, the German media distributor for Doctor Who, have announced the release of Ein Abenteuer in Raum und Zeit, aka An Adventure in Space and Time, on Blu-ray for the end of July.

The release marks the first time the high definition format of the 50th Anniversary drama will be available in Europe, and will feature both the English and an exclusive German language soundtrack made especially for this release - the drama did not air in Germany itself.

The set is also expected to include all of the special features present on the North American version, which is due to be released in May.

A press release was issued for announcement, tying into this week's BAFTA nomination for the drama.

(with thanks to Pascal Salzmann)





FILTER: - WHO50 - Germany - Blu-ray/DVD

Second Doctor Who Lego proposal reaches review stageBookmark and Share

Tuesday, 8 April 2014 - Reported by John Bowman
A second proposal for a Lego Doctor Who set has won support from the 10,000 people needed to take it on to the review stage.

In February, Andrew Clark put forward the following idea for a set entitled Doctor Who And Companions.

The iconic Tardis sits where it all began, Totter's Lane. The scene is a typical London street, with brick wall/fencing and lamppost with Totter's Lane sign. The Doctor and his companion stand outside with K-9 ready for adventures. The Tardis opens up to become the inner Tardis walls and can be placed next to the console where the Doctor controls their journey through time.

The set includes:

Tardis, exterior / interior walls.
(LEGO if you don't want to use the frame and "glass" part of my Tardis design that's ok)
Interior console (LEGO can choose if they want the full, console and tilt damage)
Street/Interior base.
K9 (18 parts)
1 Dalek red, or gray (25 parts) (assuming Lego can get the license)

Minifigs (most have dual printed face, happy and shocked)
1 and possibly 2 Doctors. An older and more recent Doctor, so older and younger fans have a Doctor.
For the more recent Doctor, I propose Tennant, or maybe Capaldi, who is the latest incarnation. For the other I propose the 4th Doctor Tom Baker, and possibly Sarah Jane as his companion. I am open for LEGO to choose the Doctor/s

2 Companions (Rose Tyler if Tennant is chosen, or Clara Oswald if Capaldi is chosen.

(Possibility of 1) Weeping Angel (Face printed on both sides)
(Possibility of 1) Cyberman
If LEGO likes the idea, a sound brick for the iconic Tardis sound.

Due to the nature of the set fans may buy 2 sets. One to have the Tardis on the street scene, and another to have the Tardis unfolded to become the inner walls placed next to console.

Total part count including Minifigs around 530 (less if just the top of the console is chosen)
More details were also put on his website.

In addition, Clark has uploaded a video to YouTube that shows his idea:


Now that Clark's proposal has gained the backing of 10,000 people, Lego has said the project will officially move from the idea stage to the review phase. In the following congratulatory statement, it wrote:
Old and new Doctor Who fans can now rejoice that this project has reached 10,000 supporters!

You've done a great job converting the adventures through time and space, which all started in that junkyard on Totter's Lane, into Lego form for fans everywhere to enjoy. This project includes a number of popular adversaries for the Doctor and his companions to contend with, but with K-9 and the sonic screwdriver, they don't stand a chance!

We now officially advance this project to the review phase.
It was announced in February that Lego was looking for Doctor Who-related proposals, and last month the first one to reach the all-important support of 10,000 people was announced.

As with the first idea to reach the 10,000 threshold, Clark's will now be examined by a Lego review board comprising designers, product managers and other key team members. Concept models will be built to help decide if it meets the required standards to become a Lego product, which will include factors such as safety and playability. The review will begin next month and end in September, and when it ends a "go/no go" decision will be made to develop and sell a product based on the concept.

Again, as with the earlier proposal, if it gets the green light it will then go into the development phase - billed by Lego as the longest one of the entire project - during which Lego model designers will refine the product and develop it for release. In addition, product materials such as the packaging and marketing will be created in preparation for a production run. Lego says that this particular phase "also takes several months".




FILTER: - Merchandise - Lego