The Alchemists of SoundBookmark and Share

Monday, 20 October 2003 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
A new hour-long documentary about The BBC Radiophonic Workshop, Alchemists of Sound, has made its debut. Says the BBC press release: "In the Sixties, Delia Derbyshire frightened thousands of children every week, forcing them to hide behind sofas, cover their ears, and run crying to daddy. She did it by twanging strings, fiddling with wobbulators, and sticking tiny bits of tape together to create the theme tune to Doctor Who. Delia was part of a dedicated band of ground-breaking experimenters in the electronic manipulation of sound who laboured quietly behind the door of Room 13 in the BBC?s Maida Vale studios. They went by the name of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, and received regular calls from members of the public who thought they repaired wirelesses. They were unsung pioneers in the field of electronics, whose strange inspiration was rooted in the curious constraints of the available equipment, and the combination of mathematical, musical, electronic and manual skills that their work required. Alchemists Of Sound is a lovingly crafted documentary in which those involved in the Radiophonic Workshop tell the story of this creative, and occasionally haphazard, group. It contains original footage of the team and the amazing machinery that created some of the best-known sounds of the times. It also reveals that the entire output of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, from 1983 onwards, would have been lost to posterity had it not been for a series of legendary mishaps. Their work added intense dramatic impact to productions such as Quatermass, The Hitch-Hikers Guide To The Galaxy, The Body In Question and countless children?s television programmes, including Blue Peter. It was a style particularly suited to sci-fi and, in many respects, these 'alchemists' shaped the future of sound. The airing of this documentary coincides with the 40th anniversary of Doctor Who?s first transmission, which the BBC and BBC Worldwide will be celebrating with various activities." The programme contains archive footage and clips, and interviews with numerous Radiophonic Workshop luminaries including Delia Derbyshire (on archive film), Brian Hodgson, Dick Mills, Desmond Briscoe, Paddy Kingsland, Peter Howell, Roger Limb and Malcolm Clarke. A certain Radiophonic Workshop 'associate' by the name of Mark Ayres also features...and one segment in particular should be of interest to fans of the Doctor Who theme. The documentary was broadcast today in the UK (October 19) at 9pm, on BBC4, and will be repeated Monday 20th at 1.10am, Tuesday 21st October at 8.30pm, and Wednesday 22nd October 3.30am; it's hoped that a BBC2 replay will happen soon. Click here for the BBC4 webpage and full details. (Thanks to Mark Ayres)




FILTER: - Documentary - Radio Times

Big Finish UpdatesBookmark and Share

Monday, 20 October 2003 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
The 2004 Big Finish limited series taking place on Gallifrey will be called... Gallifrey! Big Finish recently confirmed that the audio series, which features Lalla Ward as Romana, Louise Jameson as Leela and John Leeson as K-9, will be four parts; parts one and four are written by Alan Barnes, part two by Stephen Cole and part three by Justin Richards. Also recently confirmed: the special one-shot CD featuring the single-episode story Living Legend will be attached to the cover of Doctor Who Magazine #337, and includes both the story and interviews with much of the cast of "Zagreus", BF's 40th anniversary story due in November. Finally... could there be more Doctor Who Unbounds? No plans as yet for a second series, according to John Ainsworth, who would not be producing one if there were, he says. However, Ainsworth does mention one interesting possibility: "Having said that we MAY do one more Unbound as a one-off special which I will both produce and direct. We'll see what happens." More of the interview with John Ainsworth is at the Total Telly site. (Thanks to DWM, Brian Edwards, John Ainsworth)




FILTER: - Audio - DWM

How Many Episodes?Bookmark and Share

Monday, 20 October 2003 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
The newest issue of Doctor Who Magazine suggests that, contrary to earlier reports, the show will have either 8 or 12 episodes of 45-minute length (even at 8, it's more footage than the last four seasons of the original show!)




FILTER: - Production - Series 1/27

Kate O'Mara's ReadyBookmark and Share

Monday, 20 October 2003 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
The Rani's ready to return. Kate O'Mara, in an interview with the Daily Mail promoting her new autobiography "Vamp Until Ready," which was released October 16, mentioned that she'd be happy to return to the role she played in the television series, the "Children in Need" special "Dimensions in Time" and the BBV audio "The Rani Reaps the Whirlwind." She mentioned that she was always open to roles that would bring work (ever the life of the actor), and if asked, would be quite happy to appear in the new Doctor Who series.




FILTER: - People

Tom Corrects HimselfBookmark and Share

Monday, 20 October 2003 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
In an interview on Sunday with the Telegraph, Tom Baker set the record straight on his comments about Eddie Izzard being in the new series. "I went on the radio last week and told someone it would be Eddie Izzard. I have been putting the word around that it's him, with Sue MacGregor [formerly of Radio 4's "Today" programme] as his assistant. Sue MacGregor is a joke, but Eddie Izzard would be politically interesting..." In other words, don't count on it. (And we've since heard in the papers from Eddie, who discounted it anyway.) (Thanks to Steve Tribe)




FILTER: - Tom Baker - Press

It's Not EddieBookmark and Share

Friday, 10 October 2003 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
Eddie Izzard told BBC Radio 1 on Thursday that any casting of him as the new Doctor would be a surprise to him - probably too much of one. "Tom Baker threw my name up," Izzard says, "which was fantastic, it's a wonderful honour. I hadn't considered it, I didn't even know (the series) was happening, and I don't think the BBC would want me. They'd probably rather spit on me and slap me about with fish." Izzard, who is currently on tour in America, wasn't aware of the rumours or about the series revival. "I'm really into doing my films, and so 26 weeks is a big commitment. There are other people that are up for it that everyone else wants. I'm slightly more on the edge. I think the BBC would say 'Well we want someone simpler and safer.'. I think my breasts are too dangerous." Of course, stranger things have happened. (Thanks to Chuck Foster, William Duffy, Stuart Ian Burns, Michael Eggleston, Jason Zerdin)




FILTER: - People

Telegraph Says NighyBookmark and Share

Friday, 10 October 2003 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
Bill Nighy appears to be the front-runner for the role of the Doctor, being writer/producer Russell Davies' first choice. Now, another article in the Telegraph quotes television presenter Richard Bacon, who says the veteran actor is a "shoo-in" for the job. "I'm very good mates with the League of Gentlemen writer Mark Gatiss, who's going to be writing the show with Russell T. Davies. Mark says it's Nighy for the lead, and he's in the know on this." Of course, this is all second hand. (And the quest continues... Thanks to Matthew Sweet)




FILTER: - Production - Series 1/27 - Press

Tom Baker in the HouseBookmark and Share

Tuesday, 7 October 2003 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
Today's installment of The Age, a Melbourne Australia paper, features a very flippant (and quite amusing) interview with Tom Baker, among which he discusses why he left the show, tripping over his scarf, sipping gin and tonic in his French countryside house, and even the fact that the TARDIS didn't have any lavatories! "It didn't," Tom says. "The extraordinary thing was there was no sign of anyone eating either, was there? It's funny, in literature no one ever goes to the lavatory. No one ever says, 'Dorothy's just having a great Rabelaisian bowel movement.' No one ever says that, do they?" You can read the full article by clicking here. (Thanks to Catherine McIver, Steve Tribe)




FILTER: - Tom Baker

Anniversary Hardcover changes for TVBookmark and Share

Tuesday, 7 October 2003 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
An article by Morwenna Gordon in the BBC's internal magazine "Ariel" notes a change to the forthcoming Doctor Who: The Legend anniversary hardcover book by Justin Richards due to the forthcoming new series. The article text is as follows (with thanks to Henry Potts for the article's text):

Doctor Who: The Legend -- a celebration of 40 years of the UK's favourite time lord will go to the printers this week with an 11th hour amendment courtesy of BBC One's controller Lorraine Heggessey. Her decision to restore the Doctor to our screens required a quick revision by author Justin Richards, who was far from unhappy about the extra work. The return of his hero almost 15 years after the series was axed is 'terrific news', says the creative consultant for BBC Worldwide. And along with many loyal fans, he welcomed the decision to enlist Russell T Davies, author of Channel 4's Queer as Folk, to write the script: 'He's an obvious, but inspired, choice. He knows the subject and is respected within the industry.' Details are a long way from being finalised as the programme is not scheduled to return for around two years, but the identity of the next reincarnation of the Doctor, previously played by the likes of William Hartnell, Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker and Sylvester McCoy, is sure to be a hot topic with both fans and the press. 'He's a deep character,' says Richards, 'I would like to see someone slightly older. It works better if the character is quirky and eccentric rather than an action hero.' Richards is also hoping to that the new production retains an element of the original music -- and some old enemies. 'It would be a shame not to have the Daleks just around the corner,' he says. Earlier this year, Doctor Who video and DVD sales reached 3m. More than 100 Doctor Who novels have been published by BBC Worldwide.




FILTER: - Books

Another Actor PurportedBookmark and Share

Monday, 6 October 2003 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
An article in the new The Sun claims actor Andrew Lincoln ("This Life," "Teachers") is on the BBC's "wish list" of actors to play the Doctor. The story hasn't been corroborated anywhere else, leading us to believe it's just a publicity move.
      Outpost Gallifrey would like to assure all of our loyal readers while we're following all of these leads, it's very likely that these are simple publicity put out by agents to increase visibility for their celebrities.




FILTER: - Production - Press