Symphonic Spectacular: Daleks invade NewcastleBookmark and Share

Thursday, 14 May 2015 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Daleks have "invaded" Newcastle in advance of the forthcoming Doctor Who Spectacular, which visits the city on Thursday 28th May.

The Tyne Lord? Daleks Loose on the Toon in advance of Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular

Two Daleks have been seen roaming around Newcastle city centre in advance of the Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular hitting the Metro Radio Arena in the city on Thursday 28th May during half-term. It is thought they had escaped from the show and were hunting the Doctor…

Symphonic Spectacular: Daleks Invade Newcastle (Credit: House PR)Symphonic Spectacular: Daleks Invade Newcastle (Credit: House PR)Symphonic Spectacular: Daleks Invade Newcastle (Credit: House PR)Symphonic Spectacular: Daleks Invade Newcastle (Credit: House PR)Symphonic Spectacular: Daleks Invade Newcastle (Credit: House PR)Symphonic Spectacular: Daleks Invade Newcastle (Credit: House PR)

The Daleks were seen on the Millennium Bridge over the River Tyne threatening to exterminate passers-by and later up at the Metro Radio Arena where the show is set to appear in the half-term in a fortnight.

The Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular, which celebrates the world’s longest running science fiction TV series, showcases the evocative and thrilling music written by Murray Gold for the series since 2005 and features over 100 performers including the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and members of the BBC National Chorus of Wales, conducted by Ben Foster. The first ever UK shows will be staged from Saturday 23rd May 2015 to Friday 29th May 2015 during May half-term.

Peter Davison, who portrayed the Fifth Doctor on the BBC One series between 1981 and 1984, acted as presenter for the Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular in Australia and New Zealand at the beginning of 2014 and will reprise this role in the UK this year.

The show features a host of the Doctor’s famous adversaries including the iconic Daleks and Cybermen, the spine-chilling Silence and many more fan favourites. The live monsters provide a dramatic contrast to the award-winning and very popular music written by Murray Gold, who has been responsible for composing music for the series over the last eight years, including the record-breaking (and BAFTA award-winning) 50th anniversary episode Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor.

The show also features Murray’s latest score and footage from series 8 of Doctor Who, starring Peter Capaldi, which was one air at the end of last year.

The live music will be accompanied by a big screen presentation of key moments from Doctor Who in specially edited video sequences.

Peter Davison said:
I’m very excited to be hosting the Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular in the UK. Doctor Who fans are an extraordinary, wonderful bunch, who are very passionate about the series. The Symphonic Spectacular has already proved to be a monster hit down under with thousands of fans packing into arenas across the southern hemisphere and the UK’s first ever tour promises to be even bigger.

Tickets are on sale via the website www.doctorwhosymphonicspectacular.com

(with thanks to House PR)




FILTER: - Music - Publicity

Inferno Fiction 19Bookmark and Share

Thursday, 14 May 2015 - Reported by Marcus
Inferno FictionIssue Nineteen of the fanzine inferno-fiction is now available.

In this issue
  • THE FOUR WISE MEN
  • by Michael Baxter Dr. Who and his grandchildren, John and Gillian arrive at a grove hidden in the hills and valleys of an ancient time and encounter travellers heading east...
  • RETURN OF THE WIRRN
  • by Matthew Senkowski While Turlough continues to be haunted by the Black Guardian into doing his bidding, the TARDIS crew arrive on the planet Alpha Andromeda 5...
  • IN HER ABSENCE
  • by Julie KAY PART THREE: An Omen in the sky, the funeral of King Eisō and Vastra still has much to learn about her new friend the Doctor...
  • WHISTLE STOP
  • by Meg MacDonald An orphan girl recounts her journey aboard the Orphan Train and an encounter with the mysterious stranger know as the Doctor...
  • A HICCUP IN SPACE AND TIME
  • by Jack Lawrence The case of the missing mobile phone, Louis XIV and a very drunk Doctor...
  • OH MY GIDDY AUNT!
  • by Sean Bassett ACT III:The curtain finally falls on the Doctor's life in music...but not before one or two revelations from the auditorium...
  • THE WHOLE TOOTH
  • by Nick Wheeler The Doctor sets out to see if the tooth fairy really exists...
  • THE SARAH JANE ADVENTURES: THE MISSING
  • by Nathan Mullins Sarah Jane and her friends investigate a troublesome Graske who's stolen some equipment under the lock and key of UNIT
Full details on the website




FILTER: - Fan Productions

Global iPlayer to CloseBookmark and Share

Wednesday, 13 May 2015 - Reported by Marcus
The global version of the BBC iPlayer is to close next month.

The service, which allows viewers outside the UK to watch BBC programmes, including Doctor Who, for a subscription fee, will cease on 26 June.

The service was available in Western Europe, Australia and Canada, although it never launched in the United States due to conflicts with some Pay TV channels which carry BBC America.

Some of the BBC's best known programmes, including Top Gear and Sherlock were available along with archive shows such as Gavin and Stacey, Fawlty Towers, Planet Earth and classic episodes of Doctor Who.

The closure was expected after BBC Worldwide announced in 2013 it intended to pull support for the Global iPlayer, saying it would instead focus on making material available via the BBC.com website. Users have been notified of the switch-off, and auto-renewing subscriptions are being cancelled.

BBC Worldwide issued a statement today via their website
We would like to thank all of our subscribers for using the service. We are now developing plans to launch new digital services across multiple devices.




FILTER: - Online

War Doctor Joins Titan for Summer EventBookmark and Share

Wednesday, 13 May 2015 - Reported by Marcus
Doctor Who News can exclusively reveal the photo covers for the Titan Comics summer event, announced yesterday.

The 5 part series will feature the Tenth , Eleventh and Twelfth Doctors, alongside the War Doctor as portrayed by John Hurt, who graces the cover of issue 1 of the series. Week 2's cover stars David Tennant, week 3's Matt Smith, with Peter Capaldi on the front of issue 4.

The story is written by Paul Cornell and illustrated by Neil Edwards, will be published weekly starting Wednesday August 12

Summer event (Credit: Titan)Summer event (Credit: Titan)Summer event (Credit: Titan)Summer event (Credit: Titan)Summer event (Credit: Titan)

(with thanks to Titan Comics)




FILTER: - Comics - Eleventh Doctor - Tenth Doctor - Twelfth Doctor

Mini Matt Smith Meets The DoctorsBookmark and Share

Wednesday, 13 May 2015 - Reported by Marcus
MineCartMayhem has secured interviews with each of the surviving Doctors from the original Doctor Who Series.

MineCartMayhem is run by George, an eleven year old who styles himself as a Mini Matt Smith. George obtained interviews with Peter Davison, Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy at EM-CON 2015 in March. Last weekend he completed the set with a interview with Tom Baker at Geek Fest held at Folkestone Academy.

Tom Baker Exclusive interview / Exclusive interview with Sylvester McCoy, Colin Baker and Peter Davison





FILTER: - Colin Baker - Peter Davison - Sylvester McCoy - Tom Baker

BAFTA Celebrates 10 Years of Doctor Who in New YorkBookmark and Share

Tuesday, 12 May 2015 - Reported by Marcus
A special anniversary Doctor Who event is to to be held in New York, hosted by BAFTA Cymru, Cardiff Business Council, BBC America and BAFTA New York.

The special screening event will be held this Thursday, 14 May, to celebrate 10 years since the Doctor Who franchise was revived and went into production at BBC Wales. The event will offer 220 industry guests a big-screen showing of recent episode Listen, starring Peter Capaldi as the 12th Doctor. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with showrunner and writer Steven Moffat, and will be preceded by a Penderyn Whisky and Welsh Cheese and Wine reception.

Hannah Raybould, Director of BAFTA Cymru, said:
We are very excited to be co-hosting this celebratory event in New York, which will be an opportunity to showcase the talent, skills, locations and innovation of the Welsh creative industries talent working on the Doctor Who series in Wales.

With millions of fans around the world, and significant viewing figures in the US on BBC America, we felt the 10 year anniversary was a great occasion to toast the team behind the franchise, and offer US industry practitioners an insight into the way the series has developed, as well as an overview of the creative industries sector in Wales.
Charles Tremayne, Chairman BAFTA New York, said:
Doctor Who is such an iconic part of British television culture that it’s always a privilege to celebrate it’s enduring success here in New York. The last 10 years since the re-launch in Cardiff have been among the most memorable of its many years on air. Apart from some great backstage stories, it will be great to hear from Steven how they keep Doctor Who so fresh and part of the zeitgeist around the world.
Steven Moffat said
I loved Doctor Who on screen, long before I ever worked on it, just as I loved New York in the movies long before I ever got to go there. It will be a pleasure to combine both fantasies.
Cardiff Business Council, sponsors of the event, will be hosting a reception to promote the capital city as the gateway to Wales, a country that has seen significant increases in production of film, television, games and commercials in recent years. Cardiff Business Council Chairman Nigel Roberts said
Cardiff is an international Capital City and we are delighted to take our place on the world stage at every opportunity to promote our Capital City Region and the whole of our country, Wales.

Creative Industries forms a big part of our successful economy and we want Cardiff to be like the Doctor ‘at the centre of the universe’! We are proud to be the home of Doctor Who and we are looking forward to meeting with the movers and shakers of New York at this prestigious event.
Ken Poole, Head of Economic Development for the City of Cardiff Council and Director, Cardiff Business Council, said
Working with our partners in the Business Council, the Council is committed to raising our international profile to instigate investment to the Welsh Capital. We have an excellent track record in attracting the creative industry to Cardiff, with the success of the Doctor Who Experience, Sherlock, Torchwood and Casualty, as well as the recent news that Pinewood has set up in Cardiff.

The creative industry is the fastest growing sector in Wales. Around a third of all Welsh creative industry jobs are based in Cardiff, with over 6,000 jobs in the capital. We will continue to embrace every opportunity to show what Cardiff has to offer, further establishing the fastest growing European Capital City on the world stage.
Information regarding BAFTA Cymru events programme can be found online




FILTER: - Special Events - USA

Titan Comics Summer EventBookmark and Share

Tuesday, 12 May 2015 - Reported by Marcus
Titan Comics have announced a special summer event which will bring the Tenth, Eleventh and Twelfth Doctors and their comics companions together is a special 5 part series.

Published weekly, the story written by Paul Cornell and illustrated by Neil Edwards, will be published weekly, running through August and September 2015, in place of the ongoing series. It features all three Doctors from Titan's regular ongoings.

The first issue is released Wednesday August 12, supported by the global Doctor Who Comics Day on Saturday August 15.

Writer Paul Cornell has penned classic episodes from the Doctor Who TV series ('Father's Day', 'Human Nature/Family of Blood', both Hugo-nominated), classic Doctor Who novels, as well as successful comic book runs on titles such as Wolverine, Action Comics, Demon Knights, and Captain Britain and MI:13.

The ​e​vent follows straight on from the issue #15 conclusions of Year One, with the second years of the Tenth, Eleventh and Twelfth Doctors beginning after the event's finale.

Three Doctors, three companions, one action-packed mystery!



NB: The series is also available with five connecting photo covers.

The covers will be revealed, exclusively on Doctor Who News, tomorrow (Wednesday) afternoon at 2pm UK Time.




FILTER: - Comics - Eleventh Doctor - Tenth Doctor - Twelfth Doctor

Doctor Who: The Tenth Doctor #10 - PreviewBookmark and Share

Tuesday, 12 May 2015 - Reported by Marcus
Wednesday May 13​ ​sees the release of Doctor Who: The Tenth Doctor #10 - written by Robbie Morrison (Drowntown, Nikolai Dante) and art by Eleonora Carlini.

ECHOES OF TORTURE!

Gabby and the Doctor are back in New York after a terrifying excursion into the past, catching up with family and friends... until THE ECHO strikes, amplifying everyday noise into ear-shattering, mind-splinteringly debilitating waves of sound. What is the Echo – and can the Doctor and Gabby solve the mystery before the cacophany drives the city mad?

Plus: "Doctor... you are coming back?"
 Doctor Who: Tenth Doctor #10 (Credit: Titan) Doctor Who: Tenth Doctor #10 (Credit: Titan) Doctor Who: Tenth Doctor #10 (Credit: Titan) Doctor Who: Tenth Doctor #10 (Credit: Titan) Doctor Who: Tenth Doctor #10 (Credit: Titan)




FILTER: - Comics - Tenth Doctor

Terrance Dicks at 80Bookmark and Share

Sunday, 10 May 2015 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Terrance Dicks (Credit: Chuck Foster)Today we celebrate 80 years of the writer Terrance Dicks, who was born on the 14th April 1935.

Arguably the most prolific contributor to Doctor Who, as well as being script editor in the Pertwee era he also wrote a number of memorable adventures for the television series, including both the introductory story Robot for fourth Doctor Tom Baker and the series own 20th Anniversary celebration, The Five Doctors. His Target novelisations accounted for over sixty of the Doctor's adventures, and he was later invited to write a story for the launch of the Virgin New Adventures in 1991 (Timewyrm: Exodus), and then to launch the new official range of BBC Books in 1996 with The Eight Doctors. He has written for 21st Century Who, contributing the "Quick Reads" books Made of Steel and Revenge of the Judoon. He also wrote the novelisation of the Sarah Jane Adventures pilot, Invasion of the Bane.

Speaking of the Doctor's best friend, Dicks re-introduced the character for Big Finish, writing their first Sarah Jane Smith audio adventure Comeback.

He brought Doctor Who to the stage twice, with Doctor Who and the Daleks in Seven Keys to Doomsday in 1974 and then The Ultimate Adventure in 1989. He adapted both to be released on audio by Big Finish in 2008, and then wrote a followup to the latter, Beyond the Ultimate Adventure in 2011.

As well as fiction, he also co-wrote arguably the first ever reference book for the series, The Making of Doctor Who, first published in 1972 - a time long before the wealth of factual literature available to Doctor Who fans today! Other publications include The Doctor Who Monster Book and The Doctor Who Dinosaur Book.

For many of us of a certain age, however, he will always be *the* storyteller of the Doctor's early adventures.

Happy birthday, "uncle" Terrance!

Note: many Internet sites (including ourselves) had his birthday listed as the 10th May (hence today's post) - the writer has confirmed that he actually turned 80 in April! (with thanks to Andy Frankham-Allen, author of the forthcoming sequel to Terrance's Horror of Fang Rock, Beast of Fang Rock)




FILTER: - People - Special Events

BBC launch Doctor Who Fan Show on YouTubeBookmark and Share

Friday, 8 May 2015 - Reported by Harry Ward
The BBC have launched a new series on Youtube entitled Doctor Who: The Fan Show, which is presented by YouTuber, Christel Dee, who is a regular on the FiveWhoFans channel.

This week we look at the announcement of the return of the Zygons AND Osgood in Series 9, which takes us to The Old Doctor Who Monster's Home!




FILTER: - Online