Lethbridge-Stewart: free download The Last Duty / The Havoc Files 2 updateBookmark and Share

Friday, 9 September 2016 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Candy Jar Books have announced a special free digital release in the Lethbridge-Stewart range, The Last Duty, a tribute to real-life WAF Eileen Younghusband who features in the book.

Eileen Younghusband (Credit: Candy Jar Books)Born in London, Eileen joined the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force during WW2 and worked in the Filter Room, the top secret hub of Britain’s air defence. It was during this time that Eileen tracked the first V2 rocket into the country!

A life size figure of Eileen as a twenty-one-year-old WAAF officer stands in a replica of a filter room at the Battle of Britain museum at Bentley Priory. Her advice on the WAAF was sought by historians, documentary makers and even a Hollywood scriptwriter.

Her television appearances included the BBC series, Britain's Greatest Generation, Channel 4’s WW2: The Last Heroes, and the ITV Wales programme, Welsh Heroes of World War Two, as well as BBC’s Breakfast, The One Show and Eggheads. Her book – One Woman’s War – won a People’s Book Prize. Her latest book – Eileen’s War – was written for children and was completed and published only weeks before her death on 2nd September, at the age of 95.

Lethbridge-Stewart: The Last Duty (Credit: Candy Jar Books)Range Editor Andy Frankham-Allen says
We’ve had plans for a while to bring Eileen into the series, and the news of her death made us decide to make it happen sooner, to pay tribute to this great legend of World War II. It’s not often one meets a bona fide hero in one’s life, and the difference Eileen made to the security of the UK cannot be stressed enough; it was a natural thing to bring her into contact with the Doctor Who legend that is Lethbridge-Stewart.

The Last Duty is set shortly after The Grandfather Infestation and is written by newcomer to the range, Christopher Bryant (editor/contributor to several Doctor Who related charity books like You and Who, Seasons of War and You on Target). He says:
Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart has always been one of my favourite characters from Doctor Who, so it's a privilege to be part of bringing him back to have new adventures.
The PDF story features a cameo by Eileen, immortalised as the cousin of Derek Younghusband, a character created with Eileen’s blessing for The Band of Evil, who appears in The HAVOC Files 2. Christopher continues:
I loved writing this story because it's a great mix of monster-filled action scenes with a more thoughtful examination of how we lead our lives. It's a particular honour to be able to pay tribute to Eileen Younghusband, who lived such an amazing life.

The free PDF, available from the Candy Jar website, also features excerpts from Eileen’s War and One Woman’s War. Shaun Russell, head of publishing at Candy Jar, says:
We have included these excerpts to illustrate how important Eileen was in the defence of Britain. Apart from arguably saving Winston Churchill’s life, spending time with Dylan Thomas and acting as a guide at a Nazi concentration camp, I would encourage all fans to read these excerpts as a fascinating document of our times.



Lethbridge-Stewart: The Havoc Files 2 (Credit: Candy Jar Books)Meanwhile, the cover for the The Havoc Files 2 has now been revealed, plus news that an additional tale will be included in the anthology. Shaun Russell, says:
With the previous volume we collected the many short stories published in 2015, but it was a little different this time since we have released fewer short stories this year. However, as we like to spoil our readers, we decided it would be nice to produce new exclusive material for the collection, as well as give a couple of extras. And, just to make this collection even more worthwhile, and collector’s item, we’ve decided to add yet another story to the mix.

The Lost Skin is a novella that is set concurrently with the forthcoming Lethbridge-Stewart novel, Times Squared, focussing on several of the regular cast of characters, including the return of journalists, Harold Chorley, Larry Greene and Charlie Redfern. More importantly, it also features the first full appearance of Professor Edward Travers, last seen in 2015’s The Schizoid Earth, who heads to John o Groats to investigate a bit of Scottish lore.

Writer Andy Frankham-Allen says:
The plan was originally to release the novella alongside Times Squared, but time kind of ran away from me, so I suggested instead we release it as part of The HAVOC Files as a three-part story over three volumes. I mean, who doesn’t like a cliffhanger or two?

The cover is by Adrian Salmon, who faced the challenge of how to touch upon the various stories and yet still have a striking image to attract readers’ attentions. He says:
A unifying cover idea for a mix of stories was never going to be easy but the central idea of an incredible shrinking Lethbridge-Stewart made small work of it!

The whole collection is dedicated to the memory of Rhys Rubery, friend of the range editor and Doctor Who fan, a sixteen-year-old who lost his life in a tragic accident in July 2016. You can find out more about Rhys, and how to support the RR81 Legacy by going to this website.

The HAVOC Files 2 is released at the end of September, and is available for pre-order directly from the Candy Jar website.



The next series of Lethbridge-Stewart begins in October with the release of Times Squared by Rick Cross, followed by Blood of Atlantis by Simon A Forward and Mind of Stone by Iain McLaughlin.




FILTER: - Books - Candy Jar Books - Lethbridge-Stewart - Merchandise - Online

Third Doctor Comic - Arrives Next WeekBookmark and Share

Wednesday, 7 September 2016 - Reported by Marcus
Next Wednesday September 14, Titan Comics release the first issue in their brand new Doctor Who series - focusing on new adventures featuring the classic Third Doctor, as played by Jon Pertwee.

Fresh off last year’s epic smash-hit, Four Doctors, writer Paul Cornell (Wolverine, Action Comics) teams up with artist Christopher Jones (Young Justice, Marvel’s Avengers) to bring unexpected twists and turns to the lives of the Third Doctor and his companions in an all-new story, The Heralds Of Destruction.

This comic series launches next week and comes with 5 variant covers to collect plus 2 retailer exclusives from Forbidden Planet / Jetpack Comics and Diamond UK.

When something enormous and extraterrestrial crashes into Bedfordshire, the Doctor, Jo Grant, and the forces of UNIT under Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart mobilize immediately to investigate – and find themselves in the middle of a pitched battle against a terrifying invader! But the shocking face that awaits their return to base may tip their whole world off its axis.


Doctor Who: The Third Doctor #1 (Titan)Doctor Who: The Third Doctor #1 (Titan)Doctor Who: The Third Doctor #1 (Titan)Doctor Who: The Third Doctor #1 (Titan)Third Doctor #1 (Titan) Forbidden Planet/Jetpack store variant: Boo Cook Third Doctor #1 (Titan) Diamond UK variant: Andy Walker
Third Doctor #1 (Titan)Third Doctor #1 (Titan) Third Doctor #1 (Titan)Third Doctor #1 (Titan)Third Doctor #1 (Titan)




FILTER: - Comics - Third Doctor

The Power of the Daleks: 50th Anniversary animationBookmark and Share

Wednesday, 7 September 2016 - Reported by Chuck Foster
BBC Worldwide and BBC America have officially announced the first full story featuring Patrick Troughton as the Doctor, The Power of the Daleks is to be released as a new animated version on the 50th anniversary of its first broadcast.

The Power of the Daleks (animated) - The Daleks (Credit: BBC Worldwide)
The Power of the Daleks (animated) - The Doctor (Credit: BBC Worldwide)
It's one of the Doctor’s most celebrated adventures and yet no complete film recordings of The Power of the Daleks are known to have survived. The master negatives were destroyed in an archive purge in 1974.

BBC Worldwide and BBC America have announced that a brand new black and white animation based on audio recordings of the programme using the original cast, surviving photographs and film clips will be released via the BBC Store 50 years to the minute after its only UK broadcast on BBC One, with its television premiere on BBC America taking place a week later.

The six half hour episodes feature the regeneration, or as it was then called ‘renewal’, of First Doctor William Hartnell into Second Doctor Patrick Troughton, as the Time Lord and his companions Polly (Anneke Wills) and Ben (Michael Craze) do battle with the Daleks on the planet Vulcan.

Doctor Who: The Power of the Daleks was a joint commission by both BBC Worldwide and BBC America, and is produced by the team behind the highly successful animation of lost Dad’s Army episode A Stripe For Frazer - first released on the UK's BBC Store in February this year. The producer and director is Charles Norton, with character designs from acclaimed comic book artists Martin Geraghty and Adrian Salmon.

Charles Norton says:
The Power of the Daleks animation is the most ambitious Doctor Who archive restoration ever attempted and we’re all very honoured to be a part of such a an exciting project. Intelligent, suspenseful and magnificently staged, Power of the Daleks is one of the great lost classics of 1960s television and a superb example of the black and white era at its finest.

Paul Hembury, Executive Producer, BBC Worldwide says:
Charles and his team are remarkably talented and passionate about Doctor Who and we are thrilled that fans will soon be able to enjoy this rather sinister but wonderful, classic story.

Doctor Who: The Power Of The Daleks will initially be exclusively released on BBC Store, with episode one available from Saturday 5th November at 5:50pm, and the others released on consecutive days thereafter. It will then be shown on BBC America on the 12th November.

The story will become available to stream from BBC America's website and via their app from the 13rth November, and more widely in the United Kingdom from the 14th November, plus the story will be released on DVD in the United Kingdom on the 21st November (no other regions have been announced at present). UK readers can register their interest in the digital download at the BBC Store.



In addition to the story's release on the 5th November, there will be a special screening of the first three episodes at the BFI in London, which will include a Q&A with Anneke Wills, Charles Norton and Frazer Hines. Further information will be available from the BFI website from Monday 19th September.




FILTER: - Blu-ray/DVD - Leading News - Online - Second Doctor - Special Events

Competition RoundupBookmark and Share

Tuesday, 6 September 2016 - Reported by Chuck Foster
A roundup of competitions from Doctor Who News that readers may enter:

The Fourth Doctor Adventures: The Pursuit of History/Casualties of Time

The fourth Doctor concludes his latest set of adventures alongside Romana and K-9:
On a brisk winter’s morning in 1850s Yorkshire, Cuthbert, head of the intergalactic business known as 'The Conglomerate' prepares to hijack a very special train. In the far future, his assistant, Mr Dorrick is awoken by howling alarms. There is a problem with the Quantum Gateway. In the TARDIS, the Doctor, Romana and K9 detect strange distortions in the Vortex, an energy stream coming from a strange creature called a Laan. The threads of a plan centuries in the making are coming together. But who is behind this plan? And can anyone possibly escape when history is against them?
The Pursuit Of History (Credit: Big Finish) Casualties Of Time (Credit: Big Finish)
To be in with a chance to win a digital download of the audio adventure courtesy of Big Finish, simply answer the following question:
David Warner has his own history with time shenanigans - name the the film in which he played a character coveting a map depicting holes in the space-time continuum.
Please send your answer along with your name and the email address you have registered with Big Finish, plus where you heard about the competition (news site, news app, other website, etc.) to comp-bf4d@doctorwhonews.net with the subject "Time Traps". The competition is open worldwide, closing date 18th September 2016. Note: entrants must have an active registration with Big Finish in order to be eligible to receive the prize - new registrations can be easily created on the website for free and with no financial obligation.

BBC Books: Doctor Who - The Official Cookbook

BBC Books offer you the chance to make a culinary impression on your Doctor Who friends!
Whether you’re planning a party to watch the latest episode, need a showstopping cake that’s bigger on the inside, or want a taste of the TARDIS at teatime, this is the ultimate collection of dishes from across space and time. Keep the munchies at bay with a fleet of Atraxi Snax, and serve an Ood Head Bread with your dinner. Create your very own Picnic at Asgard, or invite the Zygon Pie into your house. And say ‘Hello, Sweetie’ to a deadly-delicious Dalektable Army, a Peek-a-Boo Pandorica cake, or some simple jelly babies. Each easy-to-follow recipe has step-by-step instructions to show how you can make meals, snacks, cakes and sweets that are truly out of this world.
Doctor Who Cookbook (Credit: BBC Books)To be in with a chance to win the book courtesy of BBC Books, simply answer the following question:
What meal did a newly-regenerated Doctor cook up in Amelia's kitchen?
Please send your answers along with your name, address and where you heard about the competition (news site, news app, other website, etc.) to comp-cookbook@doctorwhonews.net with the subject "Yum!". The competition is open to UK readers only, closing date 18th September 2016. Only one entry per household will be accepted.

BBC Audio: Doctor Who and The Sontaran Experiment

The classic novelisation adaptation from BBC Audio sees the fourth Doctor finding out Earth is not as uninhabited as he expected ...
Landing on Earth - now a barren, desolate planet - Sarah, Harry and the Doctor are unaware of a large, watching robot. The robot is the work of Styr, a Sontaran warrior, who uses all humans landing here for his experimental programmes. What has happened to the other space explorers who have come here? Why is Styr so interested in Earth, and in brutally torturing humans, including Sarah Jane? Will the Doctor be able to prevent an invasion, and save both Earth and his companions?
Doctor Who and The Sontaran Experiment (Credit: BBC Audio)To be in with a chance to win the audiobook courtesy of BBC Audio, simply answer the following question:
Having survived solar flares, the Earth then had to endure being moved two light years in space and enveloped by a solar fireball ... but who orchestrated this second devastation?
Please send your answers along with your name, address and where you heard about the competition (news site, news app, other website, etc.) to comp-experiment@doctorwhonews.net with the subject "Trafalgar Square should be that way". The competition is open worldwide, closing date 18th September 2016. Only one entry per household will be accepted.

BBC Audio: Doctor Who: The Macra Terror

The classic novelisation adaptation from BBC Audio sees the second Doctor discovering something sinister in the shadows ...
In the far future a group of humans is living an idyllic existence on a distant planet. Their colony is run like a gigantic holiday camp, and nothing seems to trouble their carefree existence. When one of them claims that the colony is being invaded by hideous monsters, no-one takes him seriously. But the Doctor's suspicions are immediately aroused. What is the terrible menace that lurks at the heart of this apparent paradise? Why are the colonists unaware of the danger that lies before their very eyes? And what is the Macra Terror?
Doctor Who: The Macra TerrorTo be in with a chance to win the audiobook courtesy of BBC Audio, simply answer the following question:
Name the televised story that featured an unexpected return of the Macra some forty years later...
Please send your answers along with your name, address and where you heard about the competition (news site, news app, other website, etc.) to comp-macra@doctorwhonews.net with the subject "There is no such thing as Macra!". The competition is open worldwide, closing date 18th September 2016. Only one entry per household will be accepted.

BBC Audio: Illegal Alien

This BBC Books adaptation from BBC Audio sees the seventh Doctor caught up in World War II antics...
The Blitz is at its height. As the Luftwaffe bomb London, Cody McBridge, ex-pat American private eye, sees a sinister silver sphere crash-land. He glimpses something emerging from within. The military dismiss his account of events - the sphere must be a new German secret weapon that has malfunctioned in some way. What else could it be? Arriving amid the chaos, the Doctor and Ace embark on a trail that brings them face to face with hidden Nazi agents, and encounter some very old enemies ...
Illegal Alien (Credit: BBC Audio)To be in with a chance to win the audiobook courtesy of BBC Audio, simply answer the following question:
Name another Doctor Who story set in London during the Blitz.
Please send your answers along with your name, address and where you heard about the competition (news site, news app, other website, etc.) to comp-illegalalien@doctorwhonews.net with the subject "Put that light out!". The competition is open worldwide, closing date 18th September 2016. Only one entry per household will be accepted.

BBC Audio: Tenth Doctor Tales

A collection of audio adventures featuring the tenth Doctor.
Join the Tenth Doctor on these seven adventures in Time and Space, written specially for audio: Pest Control, The Forever Trap, The Nemonite Invasion, The Rising Night, The Day of the Troll, The Last Voyage and Dead Air. David Tennant, Catherine Tate and Michelle Ryan read this exclusive collection of original audio adventures.
Tenth Doctor Tales (Credit: BBC Audio)To be in with a chance to win the audio collection courtesy of BBC Audio, simply answer the following question:
The Rising Night reader Michelle Ryan is better known as which of the tenth Doctor's associates?
Please send your answers along with your name, address and where you heard about the competition (news site, news app, other website, etc.) to comp-10d-tales@doctorwhonews.net with the subject "Oral Encounters". The competition is open worldwide, closing date 18th September 2016. Only one entry per household will be accepted.




FILTER: - Audio - BBC Audio - BBC Books - Big Finish - Books - Competitions

BBC reveal midnight announcementBookmark and Share

Tuesday, 6 September 2016 - Reported by Chuck Foster
The BBC have posted a teaser for a forthcoming announcement at midnight tonight via their Facebook page:



Visit Doctor Who News after midnight UK time for more details.




FILTER: - Audio - BBC Audio - BBC Books - Big Finish - Books - Competitions

Class tie-in novels to be released alongside series premiere in OctoberBookmark and Share

Tuesday, 6 September 2016 - Reported by Chuck Foster
BBC Books have announced that a series of three novels will be released in October to tie-in with the premiere of new spin-off series Class in October. The three stories, extended the fictional universe created by Patrick Ness are: Joyride by Guy Adams, The Stone House by A.K. Benedict and What She Does Next Will Astound You by James Goss.

Class: Joyride (Credit: BBC Books) Class: The Stone House (Credit: BBC Books) Class: What She Does Next Will Astound You (Credit: BBC Books)

BBC Books Senior Editorial Director Albert DePetrillo said:
Patrick Ness is simply one of the finest writers working today – in any genre – and his new television series has all the hallmarks of his dazzling fiction. Class is a hugely exciting new brand for the BBC list, and we’re delighted to be working with Patrick and the production team at BBC Wales on these official tie-ins.

The three novels will be published on 27th October 2016.


Class: Airing this October on BBC3, this new Doctor Who spin-off show is set at Coal Hill School, which has a special significance for Doctor Who fans: it’s not only the primary school where the Doctor’s most recent companion, Clara Oswald, taught but it featured in the very first Doctor Who episode in 1963. Class centres on the adventures of an all-new group of students at Coal Hill, and will have the action, heart and adrenaline of the very best YA fiction - dangers breaking through the walls of time and space, a darkness coming to a London unprotected, a new group of heroes to root for, and new villains to hide from behind the sofa.




FILTER: - BBC Books - Books - Class - Merchandise

Ninth Doctor Comic - Out this WeekBookmark and Share

Monday, 5 September 2016 - Reported by Marcus
This Wednesday, Sepetmber 7th sees the release of Ninth Doctor #5 which sees the Doctor, Jack, and Rose pulled into a city-wide civil war between strange citizens - with uncanny superpowers!

Ninth Doctor #5

Writer: Cavan Scott
Artist: Adriana Melo
Cover A: Blair Shedd (& Maddie), Cover B: Photo, Cover C: Simon Myers – Watercolor Variant

Modern-day Seattle sees the Doctor, Jack, and Rose pulled into a city-wide civil war between strangely empowered citizens. But when they start mutating into horrendous monsters, the Doctor and friends find themselves out of their depth! Fighting side-by-side with a face from his future, can the Doctor restore normalcy to the city before it's completely overrun?

NINTH DOCTOR #5 (Titan)NINTH DOCTOR #5 (Titan)NINTH DOCTOR #5 (Titan)NINTH DOCTOR #5 (Titan)NINTH DOCTOR #5 (Titan)NINTH DOCTOR #5 (Titan)




FILTER: - Comics - Ninth Doctor

BBC Books: The WhoniverseBookmark and Share

Friday, 2 September 2016 - Reported by Chuck Foster
BBC Books have released details on their latest book dealing with Doctor Who universe, due to be published in October:

The Whoniverse (Credit: BBC Books)The Whoniverse
By Justin Richards and George Mann
Published 27th October 2016 by BBC Books [pre-order from Amazon UK]


The Whoniverse is a never-before-seen history of the Human Race – from the formation of Earth round the Racnoss eggs, and the creation of life by the destruction of the last Jagaroth spaceship, through to the eventual expansion of the sun and end of the world and beyond – to New Earth, and Utopia...

Along the way, The Whoniverse also explores the untold histories of other planets and other lifeforms as they have interacted with humanity. We examine the Daleks and Cybermen, the Time Lords and the Sontarans, the Ice Warriors, Silurians, Weeping Angels, and many many more... We visit Gallifrey and Skaro, Mondas and Telos, Mars and Sontar, to explore how their histories have coincided with the Time Lords, and with our own.

With full-colour illustrations, maps, charts and photography from key Doctor Who artists including Alex Fort, Chris J Lees and many more, The Whoniverse is a dramatic retelling of the uprisings, wars and battles that formed Doctor Who’s universe, and an astonishing compendium of the races that live within it. A treasury of accumulated knowledge, scholarly erudition and accumulated folk wisdom, it is the definitive, essential companion to this universe, and any other.


Hardcover, 320 pages





FILTER: - BBC Books - Books - Merchandise - Non-Fiction

Meet the Doctor in TorontoBookmark and Share

Thursday, 1 September 2016 - Reported by Marcus
Peter Capaldi and Pearl Mackie will be heading to Canada next month and SPACE are offering fans a chance to meet their heroes at a special event in Toronto. The team will also be appearing on a special edition of Space’s flagship daily entertainment talk show, InnerSpace.

The special event will also feature showrunner Steven Moffat and Executive producer Brian Minchin. It takes place on October 5.

Tickets are only being given away through contests, with the first contest taking place this weekend at Fan Expo Canada.

One prize consists of two tickets to the event. One ticket includes One meet and greet with the Doctor Who team in attendance and one ticket to the taping of InnerSpace Presents: Doctor Who.

To enter you need to follow Space on Twitter for a daily riddle and then head to the Space Booth at Fan Expo Canada. Entrants must be 19 or older.

There will be four riddles (one each day), so four chances to enter via riddle.

A fifth chance to win is by signing up to the CraveTV newsletter, also at the Space Booth, when you’ll be entered into an additional draw.




FILTER: - Canada - Pearl Mackie - Peter Capaldi

New Image for ClassBookmark and Share

Thursday, 1 September 2016 - Reported by Marcus
The BBC has released a new image from the Doctor Who Spin-Off Series, Class

Miss Quill (Katherine Kelly), April (Sophie Hopkins)  (Credit: BBC/Simon Ridgeway)


The image shows the characters Miss Quill, played by Katherine Kelly, and April played by Sophie Hopkins.

The image marks the end of four months filming on the new series, written by aclaimed author, Patrick Ness.

Class is set in Coal Hill School, originally seen in the very first episode of Doctor Who, screened in 1963. The series will follow the adventures of the school's sixth-formers, who deal with the stresses of everyday life, including friends, parents, school work, sex, and sorrow, but also the horrors that come from association with The Doctor.

Class is due to be released on the BBC Three Digital Channel this Autumn. It will later be broadcast on BBC One. The series will also be screened on BBC America.




FILTER: - Class