Later 10 Stories

Yorke Succeeds Young

Friday, 12 November 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

According to a press release from the BBC Press Office, John Yorke will be succeeding the outgoing Mal Young as Controller of Continuing Drama Series at the BBC, as well as joint Head of Independent Drama with Lucy Richer. Yorke will be responsible for overseeing all continuing drama series on BBC channels, including the new Doctor Who series. There is no expectation, however, that this will result in any changes for the first series of the show or subsequent years. (Thanks to Steve Tribe)

FILTER: - Production

Daleks in Batman's Closet

Wednesday, 10 November 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

In the first issue of JLA Classified (by Grant Morrison, an author who also wrote a few Doctor Who strips for "Doctor Who Magazine"), a Dalek make a cameo in Batman's Sci-Fi Closet! On page 24 as Batman talks to Alfred, he tells him that he's going into his "Sci-Fi Closet". Inside that closet, in the lower right of the panel, is the unmistakable top of a Dalek - eyestock and all. (Thanks to Andrew Rubio)

FILTER: - Magazines

Collector's Edition

Wednesday, 10 November 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

The Express Shopping Channel (Sky and NTL 637) will show Collector's Edition: Doctor Who with televised shopping for Doctor Who items on Tuesday November 23 at 10pm. (Thanks to David Whittam)

FILTER: - Merchandise

Lost in New Zealand

Wednesday, 10 November 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

According to the New Zealand online retailer Gameplanet Store, the Lost in Time set will be released in New Zealand on January 13. (Thanks to David French)

FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD - New Zealand

Big Finish Update

Wednesday, 10 November 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

Big Finish has posted some new details about forthcoming books and audios late this year and early next. The cover illustrations and cover blurbs for The Game by Darin Henry (starring Peter Davison and Sarah Sutton) is up; the story features a special guest appearance by William Russell (who played Ian Chesterton with William Hartnell back in the 1960's.) Also now available is the cover and blurb for Dreamtime by Simon A. Forward (with Sylvester McCoy, Sophie Aldred and Philip Olivier.) There's also a cover illustration for the final Paul McGann story of the season, The Next Life, as well as for the forthcoming anthology book Short Trips: A Christmas Treasury and the seventh (and likely final) Doctor Who: Unbound serial A Storm of Angels, which will now be out in December. You'll find all of these covers and information below; click on the thumbnails for a larger version of each.

A few additional notes: the Big Finish site mentions an "unusual addition to the post-production of Her Final Flight, BFÆs subscriber-only release, in the form of a choir! Early versions of the script suggested that scene 9 could be enhanced with four-part unaccompanied chants, but these were cut with the realisation that they would be difficult to record. That was until Julian Harris kindly offered the services of his highly acclaimed choir, the St.JamesÆs Singers, to record the chants for this production. Thanks to the generosity of Julian Harris, the St.JamesÆs Singers, and Bob Burnell (with SNP Productions), the chants were recorded on Wednesday, 6th October. The chants were especially composed by Julian Shortman, and have now been passed on to David Darlington, who will integrate them with his post-production work for the story. As to the specific role the chants have to play in scene 9 of Her Final Flight however, remains to be heard in December!" Also, the latest anthology book Short Trips: 2040 is due out shortly, and one of the stories (by Richard Salter) can be downloaded on the website as a teaser. Finally, the story "Dead Man's Hand" is either off the schedule or has been retitled; now on the "coming soon" list for the Seventh Doctor is a story called Unregenerate!

THE GAME, by Darin Henry

On the planet Cray, it's game time.

The Gora and the Lineen are set to face off in the grudge match to end all grudge matches. The players are limbering up, the commentators are preparing, the fans are daubing themselves in their team's colours. The arena is set, and the kick-off is approaching.

When the Doctor and Nyssa arrive, however, they find that Naxy is a sport that anyone can play - whether they want to or not. Cray's entire future depends on the match's outcome, but the time travellers soon realise that it is anything but just a game.

This story takes place between "Time-Flight" and "The Arc of Infinity".

Starring Peter Davison (the Doctor) and Sarah Sutton (Nyssa) with William Russell (Lord Darzil Carlisle), Ursula Burton (Ambassador Faye Davis), Robert Curbishley (Ockle Dirr), Gregory Donaldson (Coach Bela Destry), Christopher Ellison (Morian), Andrew Lothian (Hollis Az), Jonathan Pearce (Garny Diblick), Dickon Tolson (Coach Sharz Sevix). Directed by Gary Russell.

DREAMTIME, by Simon A Forward

The Dreamtime is living Time. The Dreaming is living myth.

A city travels the stars, inhabited by stone ghosts. At its heart, an ancient remembrance of Earth. Mythical creatures stalk the streets and alien visitors have come in search of trade. But there is nothing to trade. There is only fear. And death. And the stone ghosts.

For Hex's first trip in the TARDIS, it's about the strangest place he could have imagined. Weird and very far from wonderful. Adjustment to his new life could prove tough. But he will have to adjust and do more, just to stay alive, and Ace will have to be his guide through this lost city of shadows and predatory dreams. And the Doctor is the first to go missing.

The Doctor has crossed into the Dreamtime.

This story takes place after "Survival".

Starring Sylvester McCoy (the Doctor), Sophie Aldred (Ace) and Philip Olivier (Hex), with Tamzin Griffin (Trade Negotiator Vresha), Jef Higgins (Co-ordinator Whitten), Brigid Lohrey (Dream Commando Wahn), Josephine Mackerras (Toomey), Andrew Peisley (Dream Commando Mulyan), Steffan Rhodri (Commander Korshal) and John Scholes (Baiame). Directed by Gary Russell.

DOCTOR WHO: A CHRISTMAS TREASURY, edited by Paul Cornell

Christmas and Doctor Who are inextricably linked. From the moment the Daleks first appeared at yule-tide to the regular Annual under the tree, the spooky cosiness of the season has always chimed with the series's own brand of comfortable thrill.

This collection covers every aspect of Doctor Who at Christmas, from the Fourth Doctor and Romana wisecracking their way through opening their presents to the Seventh Doctor encountering a dangerous something from Christmas past; from the Sixth Doctor running into another Christmas TV institution to the Eighth Doctor's lonely vigil in a frozen landscape. The Fifth Doctor visits an old companion, the First Doctor lands in a house where Christmas doesn't go as planned, while the Second Doctor finds he has to have a serious chat with Santa Claus. And Bernice Summerfield experiences Christmas on the Braxiatel Collection. Unfortunately.

There are hidden links between many of the stories, which are themselves arranged like a symmetrical snowflake. This being Christmas, alongside the tales, there are instructions for building your own Who adventure game, a monster party game (careful how you play it!), poems both nostalgic and jolly including one by accomplished poet Jo Fletcher and four delicious Christmas recipes with a Doctor Who makeover, making this a real stocking-filler of a compendium, the ideal gift for followers of the show, young and old.

The contributors are: Peter Adamson, Peter Anghelides, Paul Beardsley, Vanessa Bishop, Andy Campbell, Stephen Cole, Paul Condon, Paul Cornell, Martin Day, Terrance Dicks, Val Douglas, Karen Dunn, Stephen Fewell, Jo Fletcher, Matthew Griffiths, Simon Guerrier, J. Shaun Lyon, Steve Lyons, Jackie Marshall, Mark Michalowski, Lawrence Miles, Jonathan Morris, Neil Perryman, Marc Platt, Ian Potter, Jim Sangster, Cavan Scott & Mark Wright, Darren Sellars, Dave Stone and Nick Wallace.

FILTER: - Audio

Lie With Me

Wednesday, 10 November 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

Paul McGann can be seen next week in the new ITV drama "Lie With Me" and icLiverpool has run an article in anticipation. The article discusses his family life ("Paul's real life as a family man is very much at odds with the lives he usually portrays on screen") and the character he portrays, Gerry Henson. He also discusses the new TV series. "I was never in the running to play him again," McGann tells the reporter. "I was never called and I never rang them either. Would I have been interested? It's not easy to say - I wasn't interested in doing the pilot to start with." Now Paul, it says, is resigned to being what he calls "the George Lazenby of Doctor Who" and mentions the audios he's done for Big Finish. Read the full article at the icLiverpool website.

FILTER: - Paul McGann

More Cardiff Photos, Report

Wednesday, 10 November 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

Outpost Gallifrey has a further batch of photos taken by Ian Golden including a brief set report (you can read it by clicking on the spoiler tag, but it has very little in the way of spoilers.)

Meanwhile, the Sun covered the filming yesterday with an article along with accompanying photo noting that Billie Piper and Christopher Eccleston were holding hands (although it's quite likely that it was part of the filming session.) TheWestern Mail also picked up the story and the Metro today ran a photo of the two as well.

The day's filming started at 9.30am at the British Gas office in Churchill Way. They were there to shoot just one minute of film, two TARDIS landing shots from different episodes. Billie and Chris were the only two actors present.

Rehearsals were done with stand-ins before the two stars entered the fray to do the filming for real.

It was then that the crew noticed that plenty of photos were being taken and surprisingly we were asked to stop.

For the second bit of the filming, the TARDIS was moved. I missed that bit of action, but as the TARDIS was right by a fire escape, I managed to sneak out and have my photo taken by the old girl. Note that only three sides of the TARDIS were built for this scene.

On my lunch break, I went down to Queen Street and viewed the filming down there. It was then that I the opportunity to speak to the two stars themselves (despite Euros Lyn wagging a finger at me when I walked up at them). They were happy to speak and were both very friendly, Chris especially, asking about me, was interested that I know RTD's former landlord and was interested to talk about the local Doctor Who group, Timeless. He also very much enjoys Cardiff, filming here and describes RTD as "an absolute genius". Both were happy to pose for a photo as well as sign autographs.

I also spoke to a crew member who said that they will be finishing in March and broadcast will be start around Easter 2005.

-Ian Golden

Another small batch of photos from Cardiff. The first one is actually from several weeks ago during the filming at Cardiff's Temple of Peace with an unidentified alien; the others are from yesterday, including Christopher Eccleston having a laugh with the production team and the chairs he and Billie Piper are using. (Thanks to Mark Davies)

FILTER: - Production - Series 1/27 - Filming Reports

Pescatons Cover

Tuesday, 9 November 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

Our friends at Tenth Planet have provided us with the cover illustration for The Pescatons. We originally brought you a smaller thumbnail of the cover illustration for the forthcoming BBC Radio Collection audio CD release starring Tom Baker and Elisabeth Sladen, a new release of the LP release of the 1970's. Click on the cover illustration for a larger version. (Thanks to Tenth Planet, Jason Fletcher-Bartholomew)

FILTER: - Audio

Mad Norwegian Schedule Update

Tuesday, 9 November 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

Mad Norwegian Press has a few minor schedule changes. The updated and revised version of Lance Parkin's History of the Universe, the chronology of the "Doctor Who" universe, has regrettably been delayed until March 2005. Also, Mags L. Halliday's novel Warring States, the fourth Faction Paradox novel, is now slated for April 2005 release; Outpost Gallifrey has printed the prelude which you can read by clicking here. The third FP novel, Warlords of Utopia by Parkin is still slated for December, as is the second of their About Time Doctor Who reference books by Lawrence Miles and Tat Wood (book #4 in the series.) (Thanks to Lars Pearson)

FILTER: - Books

Gatiss on Who

Tuesday, 9 November 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

New series writer Mark Gatiss spoke to the Sunday Herald on November 7 about his series "The League of Gentlemen" and also about the new Doctor Who season forthcoming. "The Dr Who commission was another dream job somehow drafted into reality for Gatiss," the article says. "He loved the programme as a child, and hated it when it became an obscure self-parody." He discusses his Doctor Who novels (briefly) for Virgin and BBC Books, and also his screenplays for the BBV direct-to-video films "The Devil Of Winterbourne" and "The Zero Imperative" (which he notes are "not available" even though they actually are, on video!) He says that the new series is "a brilliant reinvention. ... IÆm not just saying that. Chris plays it straight, but fun. His seriousness is almost frightening, it makes The Doctor seem more alien, more like an innocent on Earth. When he tells you the world is going to explode, you believe it. ItÆs a wonderful part and a great piece of television. Very funny, very scary." Read the full article at the Sunday Herald site.

FILTER: - Production - Series 1/27

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