Christmas Schedule

Wednesday, 9 December 2015 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Radio Times Festive Double Issue (19 Dec 2015 - 2 Jan 2016) (Credit: Radio Times)The Christmas double edition of the Radio Times is now generally available, containing all the programming details of the main UK channels for the festive period - including of course the premiere of The Husbands of River Song on Christmas Day itself at 5:15pm, which features as one of "the very best of TV, Film and Radio this Christmas".

The magazine also features a two page interview with Peter Capaldi, during which he talks about the departure of Jenna Coleman this year:
I found it really sad, as Jen's a great girl an a great actress. I used to love being in the Tardis with her, we'd just have a laugh, you know? And that's all I want out of work, I'm afraid, to go along and have a nice time. While playing the most iconic character in the history of British television!

As well as this Christmas's new episode, Doctor Who continues to be available to watch on other digital channels/ After a short break Watch returns with a daily dose of the tenth Doctor from the 20th December leading up to a double dose of Christmas specials on the day itself as he encounters The Next Doctor through to The End of Time; post-Christmas it's the turn of the eleventh Doctor to dominate the afternoon schedules. Meanwhile, Horror Channel continue their latest run though the 'classic' era, with Christmas Day seeing the fourth Doctor end up dealing with the Horror of Fang Rock.

However, there's more fourth Doctor action on BBC4 on the 28th/29th December as the channel broadcasts The Face of Evil! As Patrick Mulkern observes in the Radio Times:
The Face of Evil seems like a random selection from the archive, but BBC4 wanted a serial that aired in festive days of yore and this four-parter began on New Year's Day 1977.

Odds on Who


With the Christmas Day scheduled firmly locked down, bets are firmly in the running as to how those shows will fare with viewers. Here are the average odds across the various agencies at the time of writing:

Time        BBC One                              Odds     ITV                                Odds   
3:00pm The Queen 32/1
3:10pm Brave - Cameraman to the Queen -
4:10pm Countrywise Winter Wonderland -
4:35pm BBC News and Weather -
4:45pm Stick Man -
5:00pm For The Love Of Dogs 100/1
5:15pm Doctor Who 24/1
6:00pm ITV Evening News -
6:15pm Strictly Come Dancing 14/1 You've Been Framed With Bells On -
6:45pm Emmerdale 115/1
7:30pm Call The Midwife 26/1
7:45pm Coronation Street 27/1
8:45pm Eastenders 11/2 Downton Abbey 3/1
9:45pm Mrs Browns Boys evens
10:45pm Michael McIntyre's Big Christmas Show - Our Cilla 71/1


Mrs Brown's Boys is the runaway favourite at present which is unsurprising as it has been the highest rated show three years in a row, with second placed Eastenders topping the chart in 2010 and 2011. The odds currently place Doctor Who as the fifth most likely to top the chart: in 2009 The End Of Time (part one) arguably achieved the top spot on Christmas Day, when the combined viewers on BBC One (11.57m) and the simulcast BBC HD (0.47m) made a total of 12.05m versus The Royle Family's combined total of 11.92m and Eastenders of 11.67m.

Last year none of the Christmas shows managed to break the 10 million mark, with Doctor Who ending up in sixth place with its 8.28m viewers. Could Alex Kingston's return in The Husbands of River Song lead to the crown once again being in the show's grasp once the consolidated ratings are known? It won't be too long to find out, and in the meantime readers can watch out for the launch of our annual Guess the ratings competition soon!




FILTER: - Broadcasting - Radio Times - Series Specials - UK

New Comics Released

Wednesday, 9 December 2015 - Reported by Marcus
Wednesday 9 December sees the latest comic adventures released for the Eighth, Eleventh and Twelfth Doctors.

DOCTOR WHO: EIGHTH DOCTOR #2
WRITER: GEORGE MANN
ARTIST: EMMA VIECELI
COVER A: RACHAEL STOTT & IVAN NUNES


The Eighth Doctor and Josie Day start a universe-wide investigation! First stop – Lumin's World, home to a raging war between the near-extinct Calexi and the crystalline Spherions! When Josie is wounded in the crossfire, it's up to the Doctor to strike a peace – and find a cure – before she dies!

DOCTOR WHO: EIGHTH DOCTOR #2 (Credit: Titan)DOCTOR WHO: EIGHTH DOCTOR #2 (Credit: Titan)DOCTOR WHO: EIGHTH DOCTOR #2 (Credit: Titan)DOCTOR WHO: EIGHTH DOCTOR #2 (Credit: Titan)DOCTOR WHO: EIGHTH DOCTOR #2 (Credit: Titan)DOCTOR WHO: EIGHTH DOCTOR #2 (Credit: Titan)DOCTOR WHO: EIGHTH DOCTOR #2 (Credit: Titan)
DOCTOR WHO: THE ELEVENTH DOCTOR #2.3
WRITERS: SI SPURRIER AND ROB WILLIAMS
ARTIST: SIMON FRASER
COVER: ALEX RONALD
COVER A: JOSH CASSARA & LUIS GUERRERO

The Doctor and Alice have met persistent foes before – but never anything like THE THEN & THE NOW, the group of supremely strange cosmic bounty hunters sent to bring them to justice! It's getting so they can't even solve an intergalactic war crime without having to flee for their lives!

DOCTOR WHO: THE ELEVENTH DOCTOR #2.3 (Credit: Titan)DOCTOR WHO: THE ELEVENTH DOCTOR #2.3 (Credit: Titan)DOCTOR WHO: THE ELEVENTH DOCTOR #2.3 (Credit: Titan)DOCTOR WHO: THE ELEVENTH DOCTOR #2.3 (Credit: Titan)DOCTOR WHO: THE ELEVENTH DOCTOR #2.3 (Credit: Titan)DOCTOR WHO: THE ELEVENTH DOCTOR #2.3 (Credit: Titan)DOCTOR WHO: THE ELEVENTH DOCTOR #2.3 (Credit: Titan)
DOCTOR WHO: THE TWELFTH DOCTOR CHRISTMAS SPECIAL
WRITER: George Mann & Cavan Scott
ARTIST: Mariano Laclaustra
COVER A: Alex Ronald

It's the 2015 Doctor Who Holiday Special! When a mysterious Christmas card materializes on the TARDIS console, Clara and the Doctor are pulled into an interdimensional adventure of astoundingly festive proportions! Packed with impossible sights and nigh-insurmountable stakes, this special issue also contains puzzles and games woven into the story!

DOCTOR WHO: THE TWELFTH DOCTOR CHRISTMAS SPECIAL (Credit: Titan)DOCTOR WHO: THE TWELFTH DOCTOR CHRISTMAS SPECIAL (Credit: Titan)DOCTOR WHO: THE TWELFTH DOCTOR CHRISTMAS SPECIAL (Credit: Titan)DOCTOR WHO: THE TWELFTH DOCTOR CHRISTMAS SPECIAL (Credit: Titan)DOCTOR WHO: THE TWELFTH DOCTOR CHRISTMAS SPECIAL (Credit: Titan)DOCTOR WHO: THE TWELFTH DOCTOR CHRISTMAS SPECIAL (Credit: Titan)DOCTOR WHO: THE TWELFTH DOCTOR CHRISTMAS SPECIAL (Credit: Titan)
Also released this week is the first issue of The Troop written by actor and director Noel Clarke




FILTER: - Comics - Eighth Doctor - Eleventh Doctor - Twelfth Doctor

Advent Calendar - Day Nine

Wednesday, 9 December 2015 - Reported by Willy Phantom


You better watch out,
You better not cry,
Better not pout,
I'm telling you why,
Cyber Claus is coming town.

Willy Phantom, 9th December 2015





FILTER: - Advent

France 4 announce Series 9 launch date

Tuesday, 8 December 2015 - Reported by Chuck Foster
The Magician's Apprentice (Credit: BBC / David Venni)Viewers in France will get to see the latest adventures of the Doctor and Clara straight after Christmas this year, as France 4 confirm that the series premiere, The Magician's Apprentice, will air on Saturday 26th December at 8:50pm.

The series premieres three months after the UK, with French viewers getting to see the episodes in their native French dub earlier than in recent years - Matt Smith's first series aired from February 2011, Series 6 from May 2012, Series 7 from May 2013 and then Series 8 from March this year (the channel did of course air The Day of the Doctor on the 50th Anniversary!).
En exclusivité en France depuis 2005, France 4 vous fait voyager une nouvelle fois à travers l’espace et le temps avec la 9e saison inédite de la série culte britannique Doctor Who. Après une année fracassante dans la peau du Docteur, Peter Capaldi revient avec, à ses côtés, Jenna Coleman et des invités-vedettes, dont Maisie Williams de Game of Thrones.

Le Docteur et Clara, désormais partenaires, ont construit une relation dynamique d’égal à égal. Le lien qui les unit est plus fort que jamais, et ils ne boudent pas leur plaisir et les émotions que leur procurent le temps et l’espace. Ils sont sur le point d’embarquer pour leurs plus grandes aventures et vont devoir batailler contre des fantômes, les Vikings et le mal ultime... les Daleks.

Avec sa british rock’n’roll attitude, le Docteur est prêt à se dresser contre tout monstre menaçant l’univers. Missy est de retour pour le tourmenter une fois de plus ; les Zygons inspirent la peur en se transformant en clones humains ; et un(e) nouveau(elle) venu(e) évolue sur une vague cosmique…

La 8e saison de Doctor Who, la plus regardée de toutes sur la BBC, a remporté d’élogieuses critiques pour son nouveau tandem. Avec, au programme, un duo traversant des moments de suspense intense, et des épisodes stand-alone impliquant de l’innovation narrative, la série bouscule le prime time et offre un voyage cinématographique à travers le temps.

« Au casting de cette 9e saison, ­ figure un vaste panel d’invités : la magnifique, la drôle, la folle Missy est de retour ; l’exceptionnelle Maisie Williams campe un personnage qui mettra au défi le Docteur de manière inattendue et bien sûr, Osgood reviendra d’entre les morts, mais le Docteur risque bien d’être surpris et ferait mieux de ne pas se ­ fier à sa première fan.

Cette saison sera aussi démente que passionnante : nous allons repousser les frontières avec le plus expérimental de tous les épisodes de la série. J’ai en effet réservé quelque chose de spécial pour le Docteur, mais je ne peux pas vous en dire plus, seulement que c’est du jamais vu dans la série ! » (Steven Moffat, scénariste et producteur exécutif)



An exclusive in France since 2005, France 4 lets you travel through space and time once again with the unprecedented ninth season of the British cult series Doctor Who. After a sensational year as the Doctor, Peter Capaldi returns with Jenna Coleman at his side, and guest stars including Maisie Williams of Game of Thrones.

The Doctor and Clara have now built a dynamic partnership of equals. The bond between them is stronger than ever, and they do not shun the pleasure and emotions that time and space give them. They are about to embark on their biggest adventure and will have to fight against ghosts, the Vikings and the ultimate evil ... the Daleks.

With his British rock'n'roll attitude, the Doctor is ready to stand up against any monster threatening the universe. Missy is back to torment him again; the Zygons inspire fear by transforming into cloned humans, and a new meeting operates on a cosmic wave.

The eighth season of Doctor Who, the most watched of all on the BBC, has won rave reviews for the new partnership, with the duo in the programme traversing moments of intense suspense and standalone episodes of narrative innovation, and the prime time series offering a cinematic journey through time.

"The cast of this 9th season had a broad range of guests: beautiful, funny mad Missy is back; exceptional Maisie Williams portrays a character who will challenge the Doctor unexpectedly, and of course Osgood will return from the dead - but the Doctor could well be surprised and had better not rely on his first fan.

This season will be crazy and exciting; we will push the boundaries with the most experimental of all episodes of the series. Indeed, I booked something special for the Doctor, but I can't tell you more, just that is is unprecedented in the series!" (Steven Moffat, writer and executive producer)




FILTER: - France - International Broadcasting - Series 9/35

Nicholas Smith 1934-2015

Tuesday, 8 December 2015 - Reported by Marcus
Actor Nicholas Smith has died at the age of 81

 Nicholas Smith's first television appearance was as the camp leader Wells in 3 episodes of the 1964 story The Dalek Invasion of Earth.

 He had roles in many other UK drama series including The Saint, The Avengers, The Champions and Ace of Wands. He worked on radio, including an 18 month stint playing music and reading poems in a show called Poetry Corner. He played PC Yates in the police drama Z Cars. In 1979, he appeared in Worzel Gummidge alongside Jon Pertwee, playing Mr Foster, the headmaster of the school. In 2005 He played the Reverend Clement Hedges in the animated film The Curse of the Were-Rabbit.

 However he will be best remembered as playing the hapless manager, and holder of the key to the executive washroom, Cuthbert Rumbold, in the classic British comedy series Are You Being Served. Smith was in the entire run of the original series as well as appearing in the sequel Grace and Favour

Smith died in hospital on Sunday following a fall at home. His daughter is the actress Catherine Russell, who plays Serena Campbell in Holby City.




FILTER: - Obituary

BBC Entertainment to wind down in Central/Eastern Europe

Tuesday, 8 December 2015 - Reported by Chuck Foster
BBC EntertainmentBBC Worldwide have announced the closure of BBC Entertainment for a number of countries in Central and Eastern Europe. The standard definition channel, which replaced the former BBC Prime in the region in 2009, is itself being phased out in favour of the high definition BBC First which is being steadily rolled out across global markets.

Doctor Who has been shown on the channel across Europe almost without a break since its rebranding (with Love & Monsters being the first under the new banner), and as other local channels slowly ended contracts BBC Entertainment became the place to see the programme in those countries that received it - its widespread accessibility across the continent contributing over a third of the Guinness World Record broadcasting achievement for The Day of the Doctor on the show's 50th Anniversary! The final scheduled broadcast for this year will be The Time of the Doctor in the early hours of Monday 28th December (the episode also being the channel's Christmas Day choice).

The launch of BBC First in those regions has yet to be announced. It is unclear whether the European channel will broadcast older series of Doctor Who in the same way as BBC Entertainment, or whether it will just broadcast current series such as Series Nine has been in the Benelux and South African regions this year (with the latter showcasing the show on its launch in October).


The press release in full:
BBC Entertainment will close across Central & Eastern Europe from 1 January 2016.

We would like to thank the BBC Entertainment audience for their support, but as the roll-out of our new BBC channels gathers pace and certain carriage agreements come to an end in some markets, the channel is not sustainable across CEE markets. BBC Worldwide’s focus is on our new genre brands - BBC First, BBC Earth and BBC Brit.

Central and Eastern Europe remains a priority market for BBC Worldwide. We are continuing to invest in our presence across the region and recently launched our premium factual brand BBC Earth as a linear channel in Romania, Hungary and Slovenia.

BBC Worldwide has strong partnerships with local free to air broadcasters, Pay TV networks and digital platforms in the region. Many BBC programmes will continue to be seen through these providers in Central & Eastern Europe.

The channel will close in the following regions: Albania, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Ukraine. Viewing of BBC Entertainment in UAE, Turkey, Israel and Western Europe remains unaffected.



BBC Entertainment in Latin America ceased broadcasting Doctor Who earlier this year, with the rights to broadcast Doctor Who passing to SyFy next year.




FILTER: - BBC Worldwide - Broadcasting - International Broadcasting

Heaven Sent - Official Rating

Tuesday, 8 December 2015 - Reported by Marcus
Heaven Sent - Official Ratings
Doctor Who: Heaven Sent had an official consolidated rating of 6.19 million viewers.

The rating issued by the Broadcasters' Audience Research Board, or BARB, includes all those who watched the programme within one week of transmission. It does not include those watching online via iPlayer

Doctor Who was the 7th most watched programme on BBC Television, and 4th overall on Saturday, overtaking Pointless Celebrities which was ahead in the overnight reports.

The episode finished at 27th in the chart.

Strictly Come Dancing topped the ratings for the week with 11.55 million viewers. Once again the top ten was dominated by the latest series of I'm a Celebrity, Get me Out of Here taking seven of the top ten places.




FILTER: - Ratings - Series 9/35 - UK

Advent Calendar - Day Eight

Tuesday, 8 December 2015 - Reported by Willy Phantom


Captain Jack's adventures may not be for the faint hearted,
But he certainly knows how to get the party started!

Willy Phantom, 8th December 2015





FILTER: - Advent

Hell Bent - AI:82

Monday, 7 December 2015 - Reported by Marcus
Doctor Who: Hell Bent had an Audience Appreciation or AI score of 82.

The Appreciation Index or AI is a measure of how much the audience enjoyed the programme. The score, out of a hundred, is compiled by a specially selected panel of around 5,000 people who go online and rate and comment on programmes.

The most appreciated programme on Saturday evening was the BBC two repeat of the comedy Dad's Army, which scored 88




FILTER: - Ratings - Series 9/35 - UK

Advent Calendar - Day Seven

Monday, 7 December 2015 - Reported by Willy Phantom


Here comes a Dalek but there's no need to run,
It's opening it's armour and wants to join the fun!

Willy Phantom, 7th December 2015





FILTER: - Advent