Tuesday, 25 October 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster
The Ultimate Sarah Jane Vote, BBC, via CBBC (may not play outside of the United Kingdom)
The CBBC Channel is running a poll to see which story will be called the Ultimate Sarah Jane Adventure! Entrants can choose from stories representing each of the five series:
Revenge of the Slitheen
The Temptation of Sarah Jane Smith
The Wedding of Sarah Jane Smith
The Death of the Doctor
The Man Who Never Was
The vote closes on Friday 28th October at 9.00am. The winning story will be shown on CBBC at 5:45pm as part of the channel's "Mega Halloween Monday".
The poll is only open to those living in the United Kingdom.
The BBC have released a Teacher's Guide to the latest Adventure Game, The Gunpowder Plot, which is due for release at the end of this month.
The game has been designed, much as Doctor Who was originally designed, to contain specific learning elements and allows players to discover historical facts while playing with historical references and key objects woven in throughout the game. Children will get the chance to step back in time and interact with famous figures such as Guy Fawkes and discover what was happening at this important moment in Britain’s history.
The Teachers Pack aims to provide resources to help them explain the issues raised by the game. The pack has sections designed for use at different stages across the primary school and early secondary education.
It is being released in four parts with the first looking at The Plot available now. Further packs will deal with Childhood (Released 31st October), Crime and Punishment (Released 5th December) and London Life in 1605 (Released 10 January). The final section will encourage students to create a museum or exhibition piece for the whole school.
The first pack is split into four sections and focuses on four main learning questions:
When and where did the Gunpowder Plot take place?
What was the Gunpowder Plot?
Who were the Plotters and why did they want to blow up the Houses of Parliament?
The Doctor’s Detectives(5-7 year olds) (3.31MB) The students will gain a basic understanding of the main events of the Gunpowder Plot, the people involved and its place in British history.
Deep Cover Time Agents (7-11 year olds) (4.59MB) The students will gain an understanding of the main events of Gunpowder Plot, the people involved and the Plotters’ motivations.
TARDIS Media Team (10-14 year olds) (1.81MB) The students will gain an understanding of the historical interpretations of the Gunpowder Plot within the political and religious context of the period.
Wednesday, 12 October 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Series 5 of The Sarah Jane Adventures concludes next week with The Man Who Never Was; the final episodes of the series starring the late Elisabeth Sladen are broadcast on Monday and Tuesday at 5:15pm on the CBBC channel.
CBBC has released a preview trailer for the finale:
Synopses for The Man Who Never Was - can be considered a spoiler!
Joseph Serf has launched his new SerfBoard, the must-have computer that no one can resist owning. Intrigued, Sarah Jane takes Luke and Sky to investigate what's so compelling about Serf and his business.
Clyde and Rani take a SerfBoard to pieces, suspecting alien technology may be the answer...
the truth behind Joseph Serf's company is out – alien Light Sculptors, slaves kept beneath his office building.
As Luke and Sky try to find a way to free them and get them home safely, Sarah Jane needs Clyde and Rani to come and help her – and get married along the way...
The BBC have also released a number of publicity photos for this episode:
**** PUBLICITY PHOTOS FOR THE SARAH JANE ADVENTURES **** MIGHT BE CONSIDERED SPOILERS
Additional Online Content
A number of videos have also been added to complement the series via the Sarah Jane Adventures website, including a Behind The Scenes video of the last day of the recording block made by Daniel Anthony and Anjli Mohindra:
As news broke last week of the cancellation of Doctor Who Confidential, a campaign was immediately set up to try and save the show from being axed.
The Save Doctor Who Confidential campaign has now gained over 30,000 signatures in an online petition. The campaign has been supported by various people in the media, including writer of The Doctor's Wife, Neil Gaiman. He said via his Twitter account: "I think Doctor Who Confidential is one of the best shows about television out there, even eating aside the Dr Who...". Ben Foster, conductor for Doctor Who and composer for Torchwoodsaid: "this show educated and thrilled kids and adults alike - hope someone sees sense and reverses this decision."
We asked Save Doctor Who Confidential a few questions about their campaign. You can read the interview below.
If Doctor Who Confidential was to return, do you think it should continue in the same 45 minute format?
If Doctor Who Confidential was to return, it would have to return as a shorter episode. I think by now it's quite clear to everyone that a 45 minute episode of Doctor Who Confidential doesn't work.
It needs to be no more than 20-30 minutes.
Would you be happy if it was to return as a much shorter internet only show?
Yes, I would be very happy for it to return in any form, however, I think it's important to show it on TV also. I think if we can come to a compromise with the BBC and meet each other half way then we will be very happy.
Does the BBC need a behind the scenes companion show to Doctor Who? What are the benefits of keeping it alive?
Doctor Who absolutely does need a behind the scenes show. Of course Doctor Who survived for a long time without Doctor Who Confidential in the classic series. But then again, we didn't have BBC3 and we also didn't have a thing called CGI or the scale to which the show is being made today. A show like this helps the main show along.
As we seen last Saturday, There were many people confused by the River Song story and then when they watched DWC they were shown her story and they understood it.
There is also the important argument, that it is educational and the reason we keep saying this is just because everyone keeps telling us that it has gave them a good insight into how television is made and from this, they can decide which area they want to pursue. They can decide whether they want to be a writer or a director, or a stuntman or even an actor. Who knows, these people could be making the show in the future, thanks to Confidential.
Have you had any negative feedback about the campaign?
I've never really had any negative feedback about the campaign. I think most people think we are doing good things for the viewers' and the kids. That is why we made it, there was alot of parents very unhappy as well as the whovians.
You get some people who say there is no point, it's rubbish, you shouldn't bother. But most of these are people who do not watch the show and they just think it's a show like "The X Factor's Xtra Factor". Some other's say that Confidential will eat Doctor Who's budget. I really can't see how and I also can't see it being a dramatic cost. It really doesn't make sense to me or the viewer's plus, they will be missing a trick for the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who in 2013 by having Confidential. If Confidential sold DVD's for the 50th, I think they would sell really well and make the BBC money. I'm of course not not telling anyone how to do their job, it is just a suggestion.
People also have to remember, I am just a fan like they are, I don't do campaign's for a living, I am dedicating my own time into this. I am doing this to help these people get their views across so I really hope they appreciate that fully.
What is the next stage of your campaign? Do you have plans to talk to the controller of BBC Three, Zai Bennett?
The next stage of the campaign is to get as many signatures on that petition as possible as quickly as possible.
We also have been in touch with BBC One's Points of view and they seem to be interested in what people have to say. That's quite exciting because really, the BBC have to say something other than a copy and paste email.
So really, All eyes are on Sunday now and in the meantime, we need those petition signed by as many people as possible.
I am willing to speak to Zai Bennett, I really can't blame him for trying to save money however, it's up to the viewer's to tell him it was a bad decision otherwise he won't know and people will lose a good show without saying their piece which is wrong.
I think the best thing we can do for now is hear them out on BBC One this Sunday and then decide what to do next. All we can do for now is leave no stone unturned!
The BBC's official comment on the cancellation of Doctor Who Confidential:
The 'Doctor Who' spin-off series, 'Doctor Who Confidential' has been a great show for BBC Three over the years, but our priority now is to build on original British commissions, unique to the channel. We regularly have to make difficult decisions and unfortunately sometimes they will prove to be unpopular with sections of the audience.
The campaign can be followed on Twitter via @SaveDWC, and the petition can be signed here.
Wednesday, 5 October 2011 - Reported by Harry Ward
Series 5 of The Sarah Jane Adventures continues next Monday and Tuesday with The Curse of Clyde Langer on the CBBC channel at 5:15pm.
CBBC has released a preview trailer for this episode:
The Curse of Clyde Langer Preview, CBBC, via the CBBC Sarah Jane Adventures site - may not play outside of the United Kingdom
Synopses for The Curse of Clyde Langer - can be considered a spoiler!
It's raining fish from the skies, and Sarah Jane's investigations lead the gang to the Museum of Culture, where the ancient god Hetocumtek may offer answers.
But when Clyde acts the fool once too often, family and friends savagely turn against him, and he is thrown out of their lives!
Clyde is alone and abandoned on the streets of London, living rough, cold and hungry. One person reaches out to him, but as they become friends, he's warned about the legendary Night Dragon.
In Bannerman Road, Sky knows something's wrong – why do Sarah Jane and Rani suddenly hate Clyde?
The BBC have also released a number of publicity photos for this episode:
**** PUBLICITY PHOTOS FOR THE SARAH JANE ADVENTURES **** MIGHT BE CONSIDERED SPOILERS
Extra online content
CBBC has released two videos as part of the Gameathon and Ask the Cast series on the Sarah Jane Adventures website. Parts One from both of these are now online to watch.
Doctor Who took four of the five top places in the list of most accessed programmes on the BBC iPlayer for September.
Top of the list was the Tom MacRae episode, The Girl Who Waited, which had 1.16 million requests up until the end of the month.
Second was Mark Gatiss's Night Terrors with 1.11 million. Outnumbered Episode 1 sneaked into third place with The God Complex and Closing Time coming 4th and 5th respectively.
Let's Kill Hitler, which topped the August charts, also managed 16th in the September ones.
Torchwood took the 10th spot with its season finale getting 0.59 million requests.
The recent repeats of the comedy series Come Fly With Me have seen Episode Two of the series retake the top position, just ahead of The Impossible Astronaut, as the most accessed programme of the year.
The BBC has released further details about the new Adventure Game, The Gunpowder Plot. The story will feature the Doctor, Amy and Rory as voiced by Matt Smith, Karen Gillan and Artur Darvill respectively. The cast includes Ralf Little (The Royle Family), Phil Daniels (Quadrophenia, EastEnders), Dan Starkey (A Good Man Goes to War) and CBBC presenter Chris Johnson. The BBC teases that one of the "UK's best-known actresses" will also have a role but say her identity will be revealed shortly. The game will be released on the BBC's Doctor Who website on 31 October 2011.
Doctor Who: The Gunpowder Plot is set in 1605. Guy Fawkes and his gang are hell bent on blowing up the Houses of Parliament and the Doctor becomes embroiled in their scheme when it emerges he's not the only alien in town... Old monsters return and new threats must be faced... By you, playing as one of the TARDIS time travellers!
Watch the preview clip below which features interviews with Matt Smith, Karen Gillan, Ralf Little and Phil Daniels.
The Gunpowder Plot preview clip, BBC, via the BBC Doctor Who site - may not play outside of the United Kingdom Alternatively there is a YouTube version.
Friday, 30 September 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster
It's now just twenty-four hours before the premiere of the current series finale, The Wedding of River Song, broadcast at 7:05pm tomorrow on BBC1 and BBC1HD in the United Kingdom.
The BBC have released a couple of brief interviews to introduce the episode, with the first featuring Arthur Darvill discussing the script, and the second featuring producer Marcus Wilson and one of the story's guest stars:
The Wedding of River Song: Interview 1, BBC, via the BBC Doctor Who site - may not play outside of the United Kingdom
The Wedding of River Song: Interview 2, BBC, via the BBC Doctor Who site - may not play outside of the United Kingdom
Two new preview clips have also been published, featuring brief scenes from the episodes (warning, both previews feature encounters with guest stars that can be considered spoilers!):
The Wedding of River Song: Preview 1, BBC, via the BBC Doctor Who site - may not play outside of the United Kingdom
The Wedding of River Song: Preview 2, BBC, via the BBC Doctor Who site - may not play outside of the United Kingdom
Some new preview images have also been released for desktop wallpaper:
**** PUBLICITY WALLPAPER PHOTOS FOR THE WEDDING OF RIVER SONG **** MIGHT BE CONSIDERED SPOILERS
The Wedding of River Song will be on the BBC iPlayer after broadcast until the 8th October, and is repeated on BBC3 on Sunday at 7:00pm; internationally, SPACE in Canada shows the episode at 8:00pm ET, BBC America in the United States at 9:00pm ET, and on ABC1 in Australia at 7:30pm on the 8th October. New Zealand will air the show on Prime TV on the 20th October.
Meanwhile, the final episode of Doctor Who Confidential is also broadcast on Saturday, on BBC3 at 8:35pm, and includes the mini-episode Death is the Only Answer, written by pupils from Oakley CE Junior School in Basingstoke. Last Thursday saw the school enjoy a special preview of the episode, only to find themselves joined by the surprise appearance of the Doctor himself, Matt Smith, alongside series lead writer Steven Moffat:
Doctor Who Confidential: Matt Smith visits Oakley Junior School, BBC, via the BBC Doctor Who site - may not play outside of the United Kingdom
The final Doctor Who Confidential is on Saturday on BBC Three, but please remember that this week's episode starts at 8.35pm - that's 45 minutes after The Wedding of River Song finishes.
It's a fitting final episode and premiers a brand new mini-adventure starring Matt Smith as the Doctor. The story, Death is the Only Answer, was the winning entry in the Script to Screen competition and throughout the past several weeks viewers have been there, every step of the way as the adventure evolved from the page to a fully-fledged episode. If you missed any of the journey, you can catch recent Doctor Who Confidentials here.
When Time Froze also features a unique timeline of River Song, featuring Alex Kingston, as well as exclusive interviews with Matt Smith, Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill.
The episode will be available after broadcast via the BBC iPlayer until 8th October, and gets its high definition broadcast on Monday morning at 2:20am; a Cut Down version is broadcast on Sunday on BBC3 at 7:45pm.
Tuesday, 27 September 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster
The new edition of the Radio Times (1st-7th October) is out today, and bids farewell to the current series of Doctor Who; it features interviews with series showrunner Steven Moffat, Matt Smith and Karen Gillan, and also includes who their hidden Who heroes might be - plus a look back at what it considers to be the Doctor's five greatest escapes ...
Next week also sees the return of The Sarah Jane Adventures, and in the magazine Elisabeth Sladen’s daughter Sadie talks movingly of her mother’s legacy.
Meanwhile, the BBC have now released a host of photos featuring a number of new and familiar faces that will appear in the 45 minute finale this coming Saturday:
**** PUBLICITY PHOTOS FOR THE WEDDING OF RIVER SONG **** MIGHT BE CONSIDERED SPOILERS
Tuesday, 27 September 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Next week sees the return of The Sarah Jane Adventures, with the two episodes of the first story, Sky, being broadcast at 5:15pm on Monday 3rd and Tuesday 4th October respectively on the CBBC channel. (At the time of writing no details on broadcasts on BBC1 or BBCHD are available.)
**** THE FOLLOWING SYNOPSES MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS
Alien investigator Sarah Jane Smith is back on CBBC with a fifth and final series of the award-winning The Sarah Jane Adventures, starring the late Elisabeth Sladen.
Created by Russell T Davies, the hugely successful Doctor Who spin-off returns for a brand-new, six-part series, featuring three stories, each told over two episodes. The first is the spectacular two-part story, Sky.
In today's episode, Sarah Jane finds a baby girl on her doorstep and tries to find out who abandoned her.
At a nearby nuclear power station, a beautiful woman appears out of thin air and uses alien powers to take control. She's looking for something – and realises that Sarah Jane may just have it...
Today, Sky has undergone an amazing transformation, but in doing so has triggered a countdown that no one can stop.
As Sarah Jane and Sky find themselves trapped between the alien war fought by Metalkind and Fleshkind, Clyde and Rani face a race against time to stop the biggest bang in history...
The BBC have released a Teacher's Guide to the latest Adventure Game, The Gunpowder Plot, which is due for release at the end of this month.
Series 5 of The Sarah Jane Adventures concludes next week with The Man Who Never Was; the final episodes of the series starring the late Elisabeth Sladen are broadcast on Monday and Tuesday at 5:15pm on the CBBC channel.
As news broke last week of the cancellation of Doctor Who Confidential, a campaign was immediately set up to try and save the show from being axed.
Doctor Who took four of the five top places in the list of most accessed programmes on the BBC iPlayer for September.
It's now just twenty-four hours before the premiere of the current series finale, The Wedding of River Song, broadcast at 7:05pm tomorrow on BBC1 and BBC1HD in the United Kingdom.
The new edition of the Radio Times (1st-7th October) is out today, and bids farewell to the current series of Doctor Who; it features interviews with series showrunner Steven Moffat, Matt Smith and Karen Gillan, and also includes who their hidden Who heroes might be - plus a look back at what it considers to be the Doctor's five greatest escapes ...
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