Documentary in Radio TimesBookmark and Share

Wednesday, 10 December 2003 - Reported by Marcus
The Christmas/New Year double issue of Radio Times has hit shops in England, and the forthcoming December 30 documentary The Story of Doctor Who gets several plugs in. On Page 17, the documentary is included in a rundown of the best TV and radio of the fortnight. This is illustrated with a large picture of a Dalek family Christmas - three Daleks + a baby Dalek, wearing party hats, eating mashed potato (a reference to 1970s advertising hit 'Smash', which featured a family of robots...) and one of the Daleks carving the turkey! There's also a copy of the Radio Times from November 1999 on the table (Dalek cover) and a photo of Jon Pertwee with the message "A Very Happy Christmas From The Doctor". In that same preview on page 17, there are some comments from Verity Lambert, including 'I don't know that the Daleks are as scary as people make them out to be. I think kids really rather enjoyed them. They like to be scared. I certainly don't think we did anything to traumatise them more than anything else really.' It's not clear whether these are quoted from the documentary or whether Radio Times has interviewed her. She crops up again on page 168 as a 'TV Insider', promoting 'The Story of...', saying that she has high hopes for RTD as 'a very good writer' and that 'Back then, it was just trying to keep the programme on air and making it as entertaining and clever as possible.' There's also a publicity shot of William Hartnell. Also on page 168, 'The Story of...' is one of Today's Choices for Tuesday 30 December, under the heading ''Nostalgia', which notes what a good year it's been for Doctor Who fans, describes the documentary as 'terrific', with 'Marvellous, sometimes hilarious clips... from the creepy (Zygons) to the shambolic (Myrka).' The write-up concludes 'This is tremendous fun, and a reminder of what Saturday teatimes have been missing for years. It's a shame we can't all hop in the TARDIS and leap ahead to see how the new series turns out.' Finally in the Radio Times, there's the listing itself on page 170, illustrated with a couple of Daleks. (Thanks to Steve Tribe)




FILTER: - Documentary - Magazines - Radio Times

Shalka DVD and Release SwapBookmark and Share

Wednesday, 10 December 2003 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
According to the new issue of Doctor Who Magazine, BBC Books range consultant/editor Justin Richards says that a DVD release of the BBCi webcast The Scream of the Shalka was planned for February 2004, but does not know what is happening to it now. Either way, Restoration Team member Steve Roberts says that a release of "Shalka" on DVD would be "in addition to the normal DVD schedule, not replacing any of it." Roberts also makes note of the DVD release order ofPyramids of Mars and The Visitation; originally "Pyramids" would have been released first, but "we couldn't get the commentary team together until later in the year and I was ahead on 'Visitation', so it was just easiest to swap." (Thanks to Malcolm James, Steve Roberts)




FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

Davies in DWMBookmark and Share

Wednesday, 10 December 2003 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
Russell T. Davies, in the newest issue of Doctor Who Magazine, comments on the new series that "at the moment, we're planning thirteen episodes, 45 minutes long. The 13 would be a mixture of one-off episodes, and two-parters, complete with cliffhangers." However, he does emphasize that all of this is subject to change. "I can certainly tell you that the BBC talks about this show as a potential long-runner," Davies says. "We aren't looking at a special one-off series for nostalgists only - we all want this show to succeed, to gather viewers, to exhilarate and stimulate and create new memories, and return every year. ... I did an interview with DWM a few years ago, where we speculated how Doctor Who could return. In that, I said that budgetary restrictions would make the show Earth-bound. Well now we're here, and it's real, and I'm looking at the budget and thinking to hell with it. Let's voyage. In time and space. As a programme, it's always going to use present-day Earth as a touchstone.... but it would be a shame to ignore the endless vistas offered by a fully-functioning TARDIS. The Doctor and his friend Rose will be able to travel anywhere, any time, every Saturday night." (Thanks to "Bobbyfischface" on the OG Forum)




FILTER: - Russell T Davies - Magazines - DWM

Thirteen Episodes?Bookmark and Share

Monday, 8 December 2003 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
A report today on BBCi mentions the appearance of producer Mal Young last week on Liquid News and his statement about thirteen storylines. Says BBCi: "We contacted BBC Publicity for confirmation of this. Their response was that Russell T Davies has developed thirteen possible storylines. The keyword here is possible. It doesn't mean that thirteen episodes will be made, and it is unlikely that Russell will be writing them all." (Thanks to BBCi)




FILTER: - Production - Series 1/27

DWM 338Bookmark and Share

Monday, 8 December 2003 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
Issue #338 of Doctor Who Magazine is due out this week (cover image at right). Included in the issue are: "Sex Lies and Videotape," a discussion with Gary Downie about the days of taping the original series; a featurette about the DWM Awards at Panopticon; part one of "And Now On BBC1" by Andrew Pixley, a story about how the show's scheduling affected its success; the final chapter of "The Accidental Tourist" by Daniel O'Mahony; Justin Richards talks about his novel "Sometime Never"; the first chapter of "Bad Blood," the new comic strip by Scott Gray and martin Geraghty; plus new news, reviews, the 2003 poll and more. The issue is due out Thursday.




FILTER: - Magazines - DWM

Pyramids DVD DetailsBookmark and Share

Monday, 8 December 2003 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
The Restoration Team has shared details of the forthcoming DVD release of Pyramids of Mars, due out in early March in the UK. A feature article on the RT site discusses the process in which "Pyramids" was cleaned up, including the video dropout and re-grading of film sequences. Extras on the DVD release include:
  • Commentary by Elisabeth Sladen (Sarah Jane), Michael Sheard (Laurence Scarman) and producer Philip Hinchcliffe, with input from director Paddy Russell (recorded elsewhere but seamlessly inserted)
  • Osirian Gothic, a 22-minute interview featurette which includes director Paddy Russell, Sladen, Sheard, Hinchcliffe, Bernard Archard (Shaun Lyon Scarman), Peter Copley (Dr. Warlock), Gabriel Woolf (Sutekh) and designer Christine Ruscoe
  • Serial Thrillers, a 42-minute featurette covering Philip Hinchcliffe's era as the show's producer, with Hinchcliffe, director David Maloney, writer Robert Banks-Stewart, designers Christine Ruscoe and Roger Murray-Leach, actress Elisabeth Sladen, writers Gareth Roberts, Alan Barnes and others
  • Now and Then: The Locations of Pyramids of Mars, an 8-minute feature shot on location at Stargrove, the country house featured in the story narrated by Michael Sheard (with Elisabeth Sladen and Jon Culshaw), music by Heathcliffe Blair
  • Deleted Scenes including the unused shot of the TARDIS materialising on the alternative future Earth of 1980, an alternative take of the poacher running away from the mummies after he shoots Shaun Lyon Scarman, and the full-length version of the war missile explosion, plus three sequences utilising roll-back and mix effects that Paddy Russell felt were not successful and subsequently cut out
  • Oh Mummy, a 7-minute comedy sketch focusing on Sutekh's career after "Pyramids of Mars" written by and starring Rob Hammond and directed by Matt West, starring Gabriel Woolf as Sutekh (this was screened at the Panopticon 2003 convention)
  • Plus a photo gallery, production notes and one easter egg




FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

BBC Books UpdateBookmark and Share

Saturday, 6 December 2003 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
Outpost Gallifrey has received better copies of the covers -- and the working back cover blurbs -- for the forthcoming BBC Books releases The Scream of the Shalka (February) and The Eleventh Tiger (May), as follows (click on the thumbnail of each cover for a larger version):

The Scream of the Shalka, by Paul Cornell

When the Doctor lands his TARDIS in the Lancaster town of Lannet, in the present, he finds that somehing is terribly wrong. The people are scared. They donÆt like going out onto the streets at night, they donÆt like making too much noise, and they certainly donÆt like strangers asking questions.

What alien force has invaded the town? Why is it watching barmaid Alison Cheney? And what plans does it have for the future of the planet Earth?

The Doctor is helped (and hindered) by his new military liaison Major Kennet and his Royal Green Jacket troops. His old enemy the Master also plays a small part. During the course of this adventure he encounters a brand new race of ferocious alien monsters, and strikes up a friendship with his latest companion, Alison.

While starting with a small community under threat, this old-fashioned, very traditional but very up-to-date Doctor Who story takes in the entire world, from New Zealand to India, Siberia to the USA, and cosmic expanses beyond.

This is the novelisation of BBCi's acclaimed animated Doctor Who adventure, first broadcast over the internet in November 2003.

The Eleventh Tiger, by David A. McIntee

"May you live in interesting times."

The TARDIS crew have seen many times. When they arrive in China in 1865, they find banditry, rebellion, and foreign oppression rife. Trying to maintain order are the British Empire and the Ten Tigers of Canton, the most respected martial arts masters in the world.

There is more to chaos than mere human violence and ambition. Can legends of ancient vengeance be coming true? Why does everyone Ian meets already know who he is? The Doctor has his suspicions, but he is occupied by challenges of his own. Soon, the teachers must learn that sometimes the greatest danger is not from the enemy, but from the heart.
In interesting times, love can be a weakness, hatred an illusion, order chaos, and ten Tigers not enough.

This adventure features the First Doctor.




FILTER: - Books

Gordon ReidBookmark and Share

Friday, 5 December 2003 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
Gordon Reid, who played Phillips in episode 1 of "Invasion of the Dinosaurs," died on stage in London on November 27. (Thanks to Ben Jolly)




FILTER: - Obituary - Classic Series

Caroline JohnBookmark and Share

Friday, 5 December 2003 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
Caroline John has a small role in the Universal/Studio Canal film "Love Actually" starring Hugh Grant, Rowan Atkinson and Bill Nighy; she plays the role of "Sam's grandmother".




FILTER: - People

New ProducerBookmark and Share

Friday, 5 December 2003 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
The latest issue of SFX Magazine (issue #112) has a small update on the new show including comments from Russell T. Davies that they have chosen a hands-on, day-to-day producer for the series, but he doesn't mention who it is. "Our lovely Chosen One is still finishing off on another drama," Davies comments. "I would tell you, except the moment the name gets announced, the e-mails flood in... so let's leave the poor soul in peace for now. See how I said all that without giving away their sex? Marvel at my avoidance, marvel at it!" (Thanks to Paul Hayes)




FILTER: - Russell T Davies