Piers Wenger appointed Controller of BBC Drama Commissioning

Saturday, 2 July 2016 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Channel 4's Head of Drama Piers Wenger is due to return to the BBC this Autumn as its new Controller of BBC Drama Commissioning. Before joining Channel 4 in 2012, Wenger was Head of Drama for BBC Wales and one of the executive producers of Doctor Who to introduce the third Doctor of the modern series, Matt Smith, alongside fellow executive producers Beth Willis and the (then) new lead writer Steven Moffat.

On his new role, Wenger said:

I have had an unforgettable and brilliant time at Channel 4 and it is with real sadness that I am saying goodbye. But the scope and scale of BBC Drama make this an irresistible challenge and I could not be more excited about joining the talented team there and for the new relationships and creative adventures which lie ahead of me at the BBC.

BBC Controller of TV Channels and iPlayer, Charlotte Moore, said:

Piers is a brilliant creative leader with great taste and a passion for writing. He has a breadth of experience and knowledge of the global industry, as well as a real understanding of audiences. BBC Drama is in exceptional form and I’m thrilled that Piers will continue to build on this and enhance our world-class reputation. I’m really excited by his ideas and vision and I’m looking forward to working with him and leading BBC drama to future success.

Willis, who followed Wenger to Channel 4 as his deputy, will succeed him as Head of Drama at Channel 4 upon her return from maternity leave.

FILTER: - People - Production

Peter Capaldi nominated in TV Choice Awards

Saturday, 2 July 2016 - Reported by Chuck Foster

TV Choice Awards 2016 (Credit: TV Choice)

The nominations for this year's TV Choice Awards have been announced, and sees Doctor Who's Peter Capaldi nominated for Best Actor. He faces Tom Hiddleston (The Night Manager), Cillian Murphy (Peaky Blinders) and Jim Carter (Downton Abbey) for the award, which will be announced at the ceremony taking place at the Dorchester on Park Lane, London, on Monday 5th September.

Doctor Who itself is nominated for Best Family Drama, alongside Call The Midwife, Casualty and The Durrells, an award it won four years running between 2010 and 2013. The show also received an Outstanding Achievement Award in 2013 for its 50th Anniversary.

Voting for the awards can be made via the TV Choice website until 8th July.

FILTER: - Awards/Nominations - Doctor Who - Peter Capaldi

Lethbridge-Stewart: John Peel returns to the worlds of Doctor Who

Saturday, 2 July 2016 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Candy Jar Books have released details on the next book in their Lethbridge-Stewart range, The Grandfather Infestation, which has been written by long-term Target/Virgin/BBC Book author John Peel.

Lethbridge-Stewart: The Grandfather Infestation, by John Peel (Credit: Candy Jar Books)

Lethbridge-Stewart: The Grandfather Infestation
Written by John Peel, foreward by Simon Clark
Cover by Colin Howard
Published by Candy Jar Books, July 2016

The late 1960s and pirate radio is at its height.

Something stirs in the depths of the North Sea, and for Radio Crossbones that means bad news.

Lethbridge-Stewart and his newly assembled Fifth Operational Corps are called in to investigate after the pirate radio station is mysteriously taken off the air, and a nuclear submarine is lost with all hands.

John Peel has a long affiliation with Doctor Who prose fiction. In the late 1980s he was personally picked by Dalek creator Terry Nation to novelise the remaining 1960s Dalek serials, including the epic twelve-part story The Daleks’ Masterplan and Patrick Troughton’s debut, The Power of the Daleks. He was also the author chosen to launch the very first original Doctor Who prose novel, Timewrym: Genesys in 1991, and twenty-five years later he’s back!

John Peel says:

There's always been something rather special for me when I'm writing in the worlds of Doctor Who. When I wrote Timewyrm: Genesys twenty-five years ago, I was excited the entire time – I couldn't wait to get to work on the story each morning. And here I am, a quarter of a century later, and the same excitement is still there.

The Grandfather Infestation is inspired somewhat by the plant horror stories made popular by the likes of John Wyndham. Author Simon Clark, who wrote the official sequel to The Day of the Triffids, says:

Plants are on the march – at least in our imaginations, they are. Doctor Who embraced the theme in The Seeds of Death and The Seeds of Doom, and, no doubt, you can identify many more. And now John Peel gives us The Grandfather Infestation, a fantastically entertaining, and horrifying novel, which suggests that everything that’s green and grows from the earth might not be as harmless as we think.

Range Editor Andy Frankham-Allen says:

I’ve always been a huge fan of Wyndham’s work, and I knew I wanted something in a similar vein. I asked John to give us something Triffid-esque and he did exactly that. He’s created a nice blend of genres, mixing the best elements of storytelling that you’d find in the works of Robert Banks Stewart and Wyndham, giving it Peel’s own distinctive twist. And John is no stranger to twisting tales, make no mistake. He’s been writing prose fiction beyond Doctor Who continuously for over twenty-five years, and you don’t do that without being good.

Despite his long association with Doctor Who, this is the first time John Peel has written for the character of Lethbridge-Stewart:

Being allowed to create a new adventure for that stalwart character, Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart was both an honour and a truly great pleasure. Even writing revisions didn't seem too much of a chore!

The Grandfather Infestation is now available for pre-order from the Candy Jar Books website, with discounted pre-order bundles and a new subscription deal for those wishing to get six books for the price of five.

FILTER: - Books - Candy Jar Books - Lethbridge-Stewart

Time Shadows

Friday, 1 July 2016 - Reported by Marcus

Time Shadows is a new, unofficial, unauthorized Doctor Who short-story anthology raising money for the Enable Community Foundation

The anthology from Pseudoscope Publishing features all televised Doctors, across 25 stories, including a five-part framing story with the Twelfth Doctor and Clara.

Synopsis

Tipped off by a mysterious raven man, the Twelfth Doctor and Clara travel to Refuge, home of the last vestiges of life near the end of the universe. There, they discover an ancient, powerful Time Lord relic. No sooner does it activate, than new thoughts, new memories form in the Doctor’s mind: new adventures of all his past selves.

Someone or something is tampering with time, changing the destination of the TARDIS, and altering the Doctor’s past. He and Clara must travel into danger, into darkness to set things right.

The book is edited by Matt Grady with Samuel Gibb, with a foreword by Gary Russell.

It features stories by Violet Addison, John Anderson, David Black, Andrew Blair, Simon Blake, Christopher Colley, John Davies, Abel Diaz, R.P. Fox, Stephen Hatcher, Chris Heffernan, Ian Howden, Pete Kempshall, J.R. Loflin, Kevin Mason, Roger McCoy, David McLain, Christopher Olsen, John Peel, Stuart Roth, Dale Smith, David N. Smith, and Nick Walters.

Further details on Time Shadows, including ordering information, are available on the Pseudoscope Publishing website

FILTER: - Books - Charities

Doctor Who Magazine Celebrates Tom Baker

Wednesday, 29 June 2016 - Reported by Marcus

Following the spectacular 500th issue, Doctor Who Magazine is continuing its celebrations with an issue dedicated entirely to Tom Baker and the Fourth Doctor’s era of Doctor Who.

Tom Baker: The Ultimate Interview sees Baker talks about life, death and, of course, Doctor Who…

Life is too short to be dull. Be interesting. Because not very much else matters does it? In large areas of our lives, hardly anything matters at all. I mean, nothing can beat being with loving friends, and a few wines, and a few beers, and a few lies, and a few yarns. And to still be adored after 40-odd years… yeah that’s the life.

Maybe I’m the longest-serving actor, in the whole history of actors, who’s actually still, 40-odd years later, adored for the same part and enjoying it in the same way. When I get sent messages from middle-aged men… or from the wives of middle-aged men, who say, ‘Tell Mr Baker he cannot imagine how important he was to my beloved husband when he was a boy’… it moves me deeply to think about it.

I was just going to work. I didn’t know, to begin with, how far-reaching this role would be. I was aware of the excitement, and the generosity, and the affection of the fans, but how could I ever have dreamed of all this?

The interviews are split into seven parts, The Unbreakable Tom Baker, The Insatiable Tom Baker, The Impeccable Tom Baker (with June Hudson), The Irrepressible Tom Baker, The Unstoppable Tom Baker (with Louise Jameson, John Leeson and Geoffrey Beevers), The Unforgettable Tom Baker and The Irreplaceable Tom Baker.

Also featured in the magazine is Part One of brand-new comic strip The Pestilent Heart, an extended Gallifrey Guardian reporting on the latest news from the set of the new series, and DWM’s issue 500 celebrations, competitions and the much-anticipated Cave of 500 Eyes answers.

The souvenir edition, available from 30 June and priced £5.99, comes in a polybag containing four art cards, two classic mini-posters, and a multi-Doctor poster.

Doctor Who Magazine 501 is on sale from Thursday 30 June 2016, price £5.99.

FILTER: - DWM - Tom Baker

Doctor Who: Supremacy of the Cybermen

Wednesday, 29 June 2016 - Reported by Marcus

Wednesday 6th July sees the release of Titan’s hotly anticipated special Doctor Who crossover event comic starring the Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, and Twelfth Doctors.

Written by Cavan Scott (Ninth Doctor, Vikings) and George Mann (Eighth Doctor, Dark Souls), with art by Alessandro Vitti (Avengers Arena), Ivan Rodriguez (Doktor Sleepless), Walter Giovanni (Red Sonja) and Nicola Righi (Doctor Who: The Eleventh Doctor), Doctor Who: Supremacy of the Cybermen is a spectacular five-part, bi-weekly adventure featuring one of the Doctor’s most iconic foes – the Cybermen - who celebrate their 50th anniversary this year.

As well as starring the Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, and Twelfth Doctors, the series also features their comic companions – Gabby, Cindy, Alice, Rose (Billy Piper) and Captain Jack (John Barrowman)!

Issue #1 is available in stores and on digital platforms on Wednesday, July 6th 2016, supported by Titan’s third annual Doctor Who Comics Day event.

This year’s global Doctor Who Comics Day event on Saturday, July 9th, is set to be even bigger than previous years with new comics and collections, merchandise, variant covers, signings, and events across the globe at comic shops, bookstores, libraries, and on digital platforms.

For more information visit: DoctorWhoComicsDay.com

For the Cybermen’s 50th-anniversary… YOU WILL BE DELETED!

Exiled from Gallifrey at the very end of Time, Rassilon, fallen leader of the Time Lords, has been captured by the last of the Cybermen. Now the Cybermen have access to time travel. With it, every defeat is now a victory. Every foe is now dead — or Cyberized. Titan Comics’ 2016 Doctor Who event — and the biggest Doctor Who story of the year — begins here!

The debut issue comes with five variant covers to collect: an art cover by series artist Alessandro Vitti, a photo cover by Will Brooks, a cool Cybermen variant by Fabio Listrani, a blank sketch variant, and a fun coloring variant.

FILTER: - Comics - Eleventh Doctor - Ninth Doctor - Tenth Doctor - Twelfth Doctor

New Ninth and the Twelfth Doctor Comics

Monday, 27 June 2016 - Reported by Marcus

This week sees Titan release two new comics featuring The Ninth and the Twelfth Doctors

THE NINTH DOCTOR #3

Writer: Cavan Scott
Artist: Adriana Melo
Colorist: Mateus Lopes
Letterer: Comicraft
Covers A -Rod Reis, Cover B: Photo – Will Brooks, Cover C: Claudia Ianniciello, Cover D: Blair Shedd

Yes, the Doctor, Rose and Captain Jack are once again entangled with the Slitheen – or, to be more precise, they've fallen into the middle of a Raxacoricofallapatorian civil war! You've never seen these skinsuit-wearing shapeshifters in their natural hunting grounds... or witnessed them this terrifying! Trust no one!

DOCTOR WHO: THE NINTH DOCTOR #3 - Cover A (Credit: Titan)

DOCTOR WHO: THE NINTH DOCTOR #3 - Cover B (Credit: Titan)

DOCTOR WHO: THE NINTH DOCTOR #3 - Cover C (Credit: Titan)

DOCTOR WHO: THE NINTH DOCTOR #3 - Cover D (Credit: Titan)

DOCTOR WHO: THE NINTH DOCTOR #3 (Credit: Titan)

THE TWELFTH DOCTOR #2.7

Writer: George Mann
Artist: Mariano Laclaustra
Colorist: Ivan Nunes
Letterer: Comicraft
Cover A: Alex Ronald, Cover B: Photo – Will Brooks, Cover C: Simon Myers, Cover D: Zak Simmonds-Hurn

The Twelfth Doctor continues his solo tour... or has he already welcomed a new comics companion aboard the TARDIS? We're not telling! Either way, it spells astounding interstellar adventure – with no limits!

THE TWELFTH DOCTOR #2.7 - Cover A (Credit: Titan)

THE TWELFTH DOCTOR #2.7 - Cover B (Credit: Titan)

THE TWELFTH DOCTOR #2.7 - Cover C (Credit: Titan)

THE TWELFTH DOCTOR #2.7 - Cover D (Credit: Titan)

On Sale Wednesday 29th June 2016

FILTER: - Comics - Ninth Doctor - Twelfth Doctor

Doctor Who earns LIMA award for Hot Topic

Sunday, 26 June 2016 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Hot Topic: TARDIS Dress (Credit: Hot Topic)

The latest International Licensing Awards have been held by the International Licensing Industry Merchandiser's Association, and American clothing/accessories store Hot Topic have won the Licensed Program: Retailer Award for their licensing programme for Doctor Who products, an award they previously won in 2014.

The company has produced a number of products within their license based on Doctor Who, including related coats and dresses, jogger bottoms, tee-shirts, and other apparel such as rings and necklaces. In late December they launched a new limited edition fashion collection of nine items which featured icons from the show, including the TARDIS, sonic screwdriver and Weeping Angels.

Hot Topic introduces Doctor Who Fashion Collection

FILTER: - Awards/Nominations - Clothing - Merchandise - USA

Pearl Mackie On Set

Thursday, 23 June 2016 - Reported by Chris Harding

The first offical views of Pearl Mackie on set has been released through the Official Doctor Who Twitter account. The first is an image showing her with script in hand and ready to shoot Series 10, in which she plays Bill.

@Pearlie_mackHere's @Pearlie_mack in our FIRST PIC from location for #DoctorWho series 10!
— Doctor Who Official (@bbcdoctorwho) June 23, 2016

This was accompanied by a 30 second video in which Mackie gives a quick tour of the location shoot, including a view of assembled fans and crew preparing fake snow ahead of shooting.