New UNIT Stories From Big Finish

Monday, 22 October 2018 - Reported by Marcus

Tim Treloar, Jon Culshaw, Katy Manning, John Levene (Credit: Big Finish)

Big Finish Productions are to release a new set of audio adventures featuring some iconic characters from the days of UNIT.

When Tim Treloar and Katy Manning return as the Third Doctor and Jo Grant in The Third Doctor Adventures Volume Five, they’ll be joining forces with three other characters from 1970s Doctor Who, The Brigadier, Benton and Liz Shaw.

In this new audio box set, made in association with BBC Studios, Jon Culshaw will take on the role of UNIT commanding officer Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart, a character appearing under licence from the Haisman Literary Estate.

After an extensive casting process, senior producer David Richardson and executive producer Nick Briggs finally remembered a conversation they’d had with Jon, when he told them the thing he’d most like to do for Big Finish would be to play the Brigadier. Briggs explains.

After checking his rendition of the character in the BBC Audiobook of The Five Doctors, we just gave him the job!. ‘It was a very tricky thing casting someone to do justice to Nicholas Courtney’s brilliant, original performance. Jon has done this with honour and love for what the splendid Mr Courtney did all those years ago.

The Haisman Estate told us about bringing back the Brigadier for the Third Doctor Adventures

We thrilled at the choice Big Finish have made. We've always admired Culshaw's voice work, and in particular enjoyed his rendition of the Brigadier in The Five Doctors audiobook. We look forward to hearing the Brigadier returning to Big Finish in such a substantial way!

Returning alongside the Brigadier is Liz Shaw, the first companion of the Third Doctor. She will be portrayed by Daisy Ashford, the daughter of the original Liz Shaw actress, Caroline John (who played the role on TV and returned to the role for several Companion Chronicles at Big Finish).

Plus, returning to play Sergeant Benton is John Levene. John first played the part of Benton (who was then a corporal) in the Second Doctor TV adventure The Invasion. He returned to become a regular with Third Doctor Jon Pertwee (also appearing with later with Tom Baker), and has previously reprised Benton twice for Big Finish.

Daisy Ashford, Tim Treloar, Jon Culshaw, Katy Manning (Credit: Big Finish)

Tim Treloar, who has portrayed the Third Doctor on audio since 2015, has been at the forefront of a new era of 70s audio Who treats. David Richardson, producer of The Third Doctor Adventures said

It’s been so rewarding to see how Doctor Who fans have embraced these new Third Doctor stories. We knew Tim’s performance (and it is a performance, not a mere impersonation) as the Third Doctor was extraordinary – and it’s clear that listeners feel the same way too.” The two adventures in The Third Doctor Adventures Volume Five will require the Third Doctor, all his companions AND the full might of UNIT to save planet Earth.

In the first story, Primords (from the Doctor Who TV story Inferno) interrupt the Doctor and Liz Shaw’s reunion, and become one of the fiercest tests of UNIT and the Doctor to date. And in the second, 'ghostly' adventure, the population of a village are apparently being spirited away in the oddest of manners.

Katy Manning (who plays Jo Grant) told what it was like to bring back these beloved characters

It was a joy working with Jon Culshaw, and working with Tim has been so much fun, watching him become the Doctor more and more. But Jon came in and in an instant (and I won’t tell him how!) caught the Brigadier immediately!

Daisy Ashford says of coming to the Big Finish fold to play Liz Shaw:

I’m really excited and honoured to have been asked to play Liz, and to step into my Mum’s brilliant shoes!

Doctor Who: The Third Doctor Adventures Volume Five will be released in May 2019, available for pre-order now at £25 on CD and £20 on download.

FILTER: - Big Finish - Third Doctor

Season 18 Burgundy Scarf

Thursday, 18 October 2018 - Reported by Marcus

Following the sell-out success of Lovarzi's Fourth Doctor Season 18 Burgundy Scarf, the company has reproduced this iconic look in a shorter, more manageable size.

In 2013, Lovarzi released a 12ft Season 18 Scarf – and it quickly became a fan favourite. But due to popular demand, LOVARZI has made a second version, using the same screen-accurate design, but at a more concise 195 cm. That's around half the length of the previous one, meaning you can wrap up warm without dragging the tassels on the floor/ swamps of Alzarius.

The Fourth Doctor returned to television screens in 1980 with a new look which was fresh and bold, but still paid homage to the past. Designed by June Hudson, this darker outfit was made at the behest of incoming producer, John Nathan-Turner, and debuted in The Leisure Hive.

Baker wore this throughout his swansong season, as the Doctor faced a spiky duplicate in Meglos; explored E-Space in Full Circle, State of Decay, and Warrior's Gate; met The Keeper of Traken; and took a final fall in Logopolis.

The Fourth Doctor Season 18 Burgundy (Shorter) Scarf is made from high-quality lightweight Acrylic Chenille, staying true to the original. It also comes in a specially-designed carry-case, ideal for storage, so it's great for cosplayers and collectors.

Maninder Singh Sahota, Director of Lovarzi, says

When we released a shorter version of our original Tom Baker Scarf, we were overwhelmed by the response, especially at the Doctor Who Festival. Our full-sized scarves are great for conventions, but we know they can be unwieldy in everyday life. That's why we've made this shorter version of the Burgundy Scarf, perfect for fans to show off their credentials wherever they are.

Lovarzi's officially-licensed Doctor Who line launched in 2012 with the best-selling multi-coloured Fourth Doctor Scarf. Since then, the company has catered for fans of all eras with items including the Fourth Doctor Knitted Tie, TARDIS Folding Umbrella, and 18ft Season 16- 17 Scarf. The Fourth Doctor Season 18 Burgundy (Shorter) Scarf will be available to buy from 19th October 2018, priced £24.99, from Lovarzi.co.uk and Amazon.

Members of Lovarzi’s exclusive Doctor Who Fan Club can take advantage of a 15% discount on the Burgundy (Shorter) Scarf - and further discounts whenever new Doctor Who items are added to the range! Become a member by clicking here.

FILTER: - Clothing - Fourth Doctor

Doctor Who Limited Edition Barbie

Saturday, 13 October 2018 - Reported by Marcus

BBC Studios and Mattel have partnered to release the first ever Doctor Who Limited Edition Barbie doll, available in Australia

Pre-sale is available via zingpopculture.com.au and ebgames.com.au and in Zing Pop Culture stores in December.

Nicole Chungue, Licensing Manager for BBC Studios ANZ, says

This year, we’re introducing an all-new look for Doctor Who. New monsters, new stories, new characters and of course a new Doctor in Jodie Whittaker, the first woman to play the role.

Given Barbie’s celebration of women who have made history, as well as iconic characters from some of the best loved movies and shows, we felt it was a great opportunity to work with Mattel to create a doll based on the Thirteenth Doctor.

The Doctor Who Barbie doll offers fans and collectors a new way to celebrate the adventures of this iconic character and we’re delighted to be able to bring this to Australia through Zing Pop Culture.

Melissa Davey, Senior Buyer & Licensing for EB Games & Zing Pop Culture, said

EB and Zing couldn’t be more thrilled for the new Doctor and to be embarking on a new journey with the fans. What better way to celebrate than giving whovians the opportunity to get their hands on their very own Doctor Who Barbie

Tthe Doctor Who Barbie wears a rainbow-striped t-shirt, paired with cropped trousers and a trench coat. Additional, true-to-character details include Doctor Who signature braces and lace-up boots.

FILTER: - Character - Thirteenth Doctor

Tenth Doctor and Donna Back For More Audio Adventures

Wednesday, 10 October 2018 - Reported by Marcus

David Tennant, Catherine Tate (Credit: Big Finish)

David Tennant and Catherine Tate are to reprise their roles in Doctor Who for three more audio adventures in time and space, in The Tenth Doctor Adventures - Volume 3.

And they’re taking the family with them...

Jacqueline King will return as Sylvia Noble, Donna’s mother and, returning to Big Finish after an eleven-year absence, Bernard Cribbins will reprise his role as Wilfred Mott, Donna’s grandfather.

The Doctor and Donna will be back in action, with three new audio adventures coming May 2019.

3.1 No Place by James Goss

It's Haunted Makeovers! The home improvement show with a spooky twist.
The Noble family are hoping to cast out a few spirits along with the old bathroom suite, as presenter Justin joins Donna, Wilf, Sylvia and the Doctor for the latest edition of his reality TV series.
Of course, Justin knows that any supernatural phenomena can be faked. Ghosts can't possibly be real.
Can they..?

3.2 One Mile Down by Jenny T Colgan

Donna and the Doctor take a holiday - in the beautiful underwater city of Vallarasee.
Things have changed since the Doctor last swam through it: Vallarasee is now enclosed inside an airdome. Judoon patrol historic sites, and instead of tourists wearing helmets to breathe, the native Fins are forced to adapt.
But leaks have begun to trickle into the dome, and the Doctor and Donna must convince the Judoon that disaster is imminent. Or else thousands will be trapped, as the waters rise...

3.3 The Creeping Death by Roy Gill

London, 1952, and a deadly smog envelops the capital.
But something even more dangerous - and alien - is hiding within the mists.
When the Doctor and Donna get lost in the fog, they find a motley group of Londoners trying to make their way home. Soon the stakes are raised, as death creeps along fume-choked streets, and not everyone will make it out alive....

Tenth Doctor Adventures Volume Three (Credit: Big Finish)

Due for release in May 2019, we can look forward to menacing threats lurk in 1950s London’s smog in a tale by Roy Gill, dangerous underwater worlds with the Judoon in a thriller by Jenny T Colgan, and James Goss taking the Doctor, Donna and family on their most treacherous journey yet... into the horrifying world of reality television!

Jacqueline King who plays Donna’s mother, the incomparable Sylvia Noble, told us about returning to the role:

Doctor Who has been the gift that keeps on giving. I started, believing I was to appear in one Christmas episode, then was thrilled to appear in more. I recently returned to the role with Big Finish and it was like putting a cherished old sweater back on. That old sweater will have to be washed and conditioned ready for this episode with the A team back in full. Can’t believe my luck. I’m guessing it might actually feel a bit emotional.

Producer David Richardson says

Three box sets in and my excitement about working on The Tenth Doctor Adventures is as strong as ever. When we first started thinking about this new set of stories, I emailed Russell T Davies to ask about including Sylvia. He suggested we should try for Wilf too – it had never occurred to me that we might be able to get Bernard Cribbins involved. But a call to Bernard’s agent revealed how delighted he was by the prospect, and there we had it – the Noble family together again, nine years after they last appeared on TV.

Doctor Who – The Tenth Doctor Adventures Volume Three (Limited Edition) is available now for pre-order. A five-disc collector’s edition – limited to 5,000 copies – is available on CD in deluxe bookset packaging for a pre-release price of £35, with the download version for £25.

Included with the limited edition CD release, Doctor Who and Blake’s 7 costume designer June Hudson has created costume designs for the creatures and aliens, and writer and SFX specialist Mike Tucker has created storyboards for the new stories. With behind-the-scenes interviews from some of the cast and crew as well, this limited edition makes for an unmissable audio package.

The three episodes, No Place, One Mile Down and The Creeping Death can also be bought individually for £8.99 on download and £10.99 on CD. Or you can buy all three individually but together in a bundle for £22 on download and £25 on CD.

FILTER: - Audio - Big Finish - Catherine Tate - David Tennant - Tenth Doctor

The Woman Who Fell to Earth - Press Reviews

Monday, 8 October 2018 - Reported by Marcus

The Woman Who Fell to Earth: The Doctor (Jodie Whittaker) (Credit: BBC/BBC Worldwide (Sophie Mutevilian ))

Press reaction to the new season of Doctor Who is overwhelmingly positive with Jodie Whittaker winning many plaudits for her first full episode as the Thirteenth Doctor

The Independent led the praise for the lead actress's performance. " After all the hype, hyperbole and inevitable internet hate, she acquits herself wonderfully in her full-length debut. Whittaker is a force of breezy nature – rambunctious, quirky but with a reassuringly familiar aura of Gallifreyan uncanniness."

The Guardian loved the interaction between the main characters. "The new Doctor and her team – 19-year-old Ryan, his old schoolmate turned police probationer Yasmin, and Ryan’s step-grandfather Graham (Tosin Cole, Mandip Gill and Bradley Walsh respectively) – have heart and soul, and are set against a comforting background of West Yorkshire women – especially Ryan’s nan – talking common sense as alien life and electrical pulses erupt around them."

Whittaker was also praised by the Telegraph who said the actress shined in a flawed but fun Doctor Who debut. "There has been a depressingly predictable knee-jerk backlash to a time-travelling, body-regenerating extraterrestrial with two hearts having the temerity to be female but this debut adventure barrelled straight past such quibbles. After mere minutes of the Doctor’s arrival – crashing through the roof of a train in Sheffield, having fallen from the Tardis at the climax of the Christmas special – you stopped noticing"

Digital Spy was sure Jodie Whittaker's Doctor is going to be everybody's new hero, and noted how her sex is irrelevant. "For all the buzz, positive and negative, that surrounded Whittaker's casting as the first female Doctor, what her first few scenes make abundantly clear is how unimportant the character's gender really is. It's completely and utterly incidental, a point which 'The Woman Who Fell to Earth' makes not through words – the transition from old to new is discussed no more here than it has been in previous Doctor's debuts – but through actions."

Den of Geek says series 11 premiere finds Doctor Who in rude health. "Whittaker certainly makes an impact in her opening scene - quite literally, as she falls through the roof of the train and meets her new companions. The script cleverly wastes no time in having her do some proper ‘Doctor business’ - fending off an alien, casually dismissing a death in favour of the mystery at hand and persuading police officer Yas not to call for reinforcements. Whittaker shines pretty quickly in these scenes, and has every bit of the quiet intensity of her predecessors."

Variety felt the episode fulfilled a difficult brief. "Striking the right balance has been a tall order for any new Doctor and showrunner to take on, as several pairs have done over the last decade, but the level of difficulty this particular team had to master is arguably the highest yet. That’s why it’s so impressive that “The Woman Who Fell to Earth” is, for the most part, an extremely typical episode of “Doctor Who."

NPR loved the characterisation of The Doctor "With her rich Northern accent (the actress was born in Yorkshire), Whittaker's Doctor isn't posh or effete — no bow ties or fezzes for her. Instead, she radiates pragmatism (if pragmatism is a thing that can radiate) and a decidedly middle-class, we're-all-in-this-together enthusiasm."

Finally, the Los Angeles Times says Doctor Who returns in thrilling fashion. "The new Doctor has both authority and energy; she is playful yet mature, a little mad but not manic, funny and agile and perhaps will turn out a shade less judgmental than some of her predecessors. Chibnall has given Whittaker a lighter brief: “I’m the Doctor,” she declares, “sorting out fair play throughout the universe.” And later, in that soft Yorkshire accent, “Sometimes I see things that need fixin’ and do what I can.”

The Doctor Who News review can be found on our reviews site.

FILTER: - Broadcasting - Jodie Whittaker - series 11/37 - Thirteenth Doctor

Black Archive #24: The Time Warrior

Friday, 5 October 2018 - Reported by Marcus

Obverse books have released the latest in their series of Black Archive books, looking in detail at the making of the Doctor Who story The Time Warrior

Matthew Kilburn looks at the Third Doctor story, the first of Jon Pertwee's final season and the story that introduced both the character of Sarah Jane Smith and the Sontarans.

Making extensive use of a rarely seen rehearsal script for The Time Warrior, this Black Archive looks at how the US involvement in Vietnam combined with author Robert Holmes’s experience of the Second World War in Burma and consciousness of Britain’s imperial decline to create Doctor Who’s first Sontaran, Linx.

It also explores how the serial’s medievalism invoked a shared cultural memory of Gothic and Romantic literature and cinema to launch not only one of the series’ most enduring alien races but also one of its best-loved heroines, Sarah Jane Smith.

Black Archive #24: The Time Warrior can be ordered from Obverse books as a paperback or an Electronic book.

FILTER: - Books - Third Doctor

First Look at the The Woman Who Fell To Earth

Saturday, 29 September 2018 - Reported by Marcus

The BBC have released the first full clip from the upcoming series of Doctor Who

FIRST LOOK: Episode 1 | The Woman Who Fell To Earth

The new series begins on Sunday 7th October.

FILTER: - series 11/37 - Thirteenth Doctor

Lethbridge-Stewart: The HAVOC Files: Loose Ends and new short story competition

Saturday, 29 September 2018 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Lethbridge-Stewart: The HAVOC Files: Loose Ends (Credit: Candy Jar Books)

Candy Jar Books has announced a brand-new short story collection, The HAVOC Files: Loose Ends, written by range editor, Andy Frankham-Allen.

Explaining the origin of the anthology, Andy said:

Once it became clear we were bringing our ongoing narrative to a close in the beginning of 2018, Shaun and I discussed what to do with the dangling plot threads, and character arcs that never got fully resolved. And answer some questions the readers don’t even know they have! We decided the best way to address some of the key moments was to release a collection of short stories. And The HAVOC Files: Loose Ends is the result!

The anthology will feature stories focusing on various regular characters seen through the original sixteen-book run of Lethbridge-Stewart, including such popular characters as Bill Bishop, Harold Chorley, Owain Lethbridge-Stewart, Dylan Lethbridge-Stewart, Rhys Rubery, Samson Ware and, of course, the lead characters Alistair Lethbridge-Stewart and Anne Travers.

The HAVOC Files: Loose Ends will be, initially, only available in limited edition and is up for pre-order now.

Candy Jar is also reprinting a short-run of The HAVOC Files 2, which can be found via their website.

Short Story Competition

Following the success of the first Lethbridge-Stewart Short Story Competition, Candy Jar is having a second round with another competition. As with the first one, it will be open to previously unpublished writers, although this time it will be open to those both in and outside the UK.

Head of Publishing, Shaun Russell, says:

We had a great response when we announced the Short Story Collection and because of its success I am very excited to be doing it all over again. This time we want to give other characters a chance in the spotlight. What about Anne, Bill, or even newly created characters from our Lethbridge-Stewart spin-off, The Lucy Wilson Mysteries? With this collection we are giving fans the chance to really explore, and I can’t wait to see what response we get!

Andy adds:

This time Shaun and I will be running the competition, casting our expert eyes over the entries. And as the stories will exist outside of the canon of our ranges, we encourage all contenders to embrace their creativity and take our characters into entirely unexpected areas. As long as they are true to the characters depicted in our ranges, you can put them into almost any situation. The only true limit is the imagination!

The winning entry will receive a Kindle Fire and Lethbridge-Stewart or The Lucy Wilson Mysteries publishing deal. All shortlisted entries will be published in The Lethbridge-Stewart Short Story Collection Vol 2.

The winner of the first short story competition was announced earlier this year as Sean Alexander from Holyhead, north Wales with his story, Boys Don’t Cry. Following the competition, Sean is now working with Andy Frankham-Allen on a new Lethbridge-Stewart novel for the 2019/2020 range.

With the opportunity to secure a publishing deal through entering the brand-new writing competition, and a much wider scope for creativity, this is an exciting opportunity for any writer or fan of the Lethbridge-Stewart world.

The entry fee is £5. To enter visit the Candy Jar website.

Please include:
Your name, age, email, address and telephone number.

Submissions can be entered until the end of November 2018.

Submission guidelines for the Lethbridge-Stewart South Wales Short Story Competition:

Maximum of 3000 words.
This competition is open to anybody who has never been published before, whether you’re a fan of Doctor Who and Lethbridge-Stewart or not. We’re looking for stories that utilise any character from the Lethbridge-Stewart and The Lucy Wilson Mysteries range of books (list of Lethbridge-Stewart characters here). It is not necessary to fit within the timeline; these stories are out of the canon of the series, so feel free to let your imagination run wild!
A selection of free short stories will be sent to any applicant on request, should you need to see our characters in action.
Our license is with the Haisman Literary Estate only, therefore you CAN use any character from the Doctor Who serials The Abominable Snowmen, The Web of Fear and The Dominators, or any original character found Candy Jar Books’ Lethbridge-Stewart and The Lucy Wilson Mysteries series (except characters from Doctor Who that appeared in the ranges under express permission).
You can NOT use any other Doctor Who characters or monsters.
You can NOT use UNIT or any associated characters.
Any entries that feature a Doctor Who character not owned by the Haisman Literary Estate will be instantly disqualified, with no refund.

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

Cold Vengeance on Vinyl

Friday, 28 September 2018 - Reported by Marcus

Following the sell-out success of Big Finish Productions limited edition Doctor Who stories on vinyl earlier this year, the audio company has announced another exclusive release.

HMV will release Doctor Who: Cold Vengeance starring David Tennant and Billie Piper on Friday 5th October 2018.

Billie Piper portrayed the Doctor’s much-loved companion Rose Tyler in 2005 and 2006, returning for a number of stories in 2008. She also appeared as The Moment – which had taken Rose’s form – in The Day of the Doctor. This is the second Big Finish vinyl release that Rose has appeared in following her debut in Infamy of the Zaross earlier this year.

Nicholas Briggs, Big Finish executive producer and director of Cold Vengeance, as well as the voice of the Daleks on TV, says:

Mark your diaries because this is sure to sell out. HMV is an incredible partner to work with and because of the previous demand they've upped the production numbers. I'm delighted for us to be a part of the vinyl resurgence and very pleased that, like our app, we're making it easy for people to listen to our stories.

The release will be a numbered limited edition on coloured vinyl, and only available in the UK. 250 copies have been made available on the HMV website for pre-order.

The Tenth Doctor Adventures Volume 2, was released in November 2017 and includes Cold Vengeance and two further Tenth Doctor adventures.

CDs and downloads are available to buy now from the Big Finish website

FILTER: - Big Finish - Tenth Doctor - Vinyl

The Thirteenth Doctor - Volume 0

Wednesday, 26 September 2018 - Reported by Marcus

Doctor Who returns to television screens next month, and to mark this long-awaited event, Titan Comics are publishing The Thirteenth Doctor Vol. 0, the ultimate celebration of The Doctor’s many, many lives and a special primer ahead of Titan’s new ongoing Thirteenth Doctor comic book series this autumn.

It's said that your life flashes before your eyes when you die: as the Doctor regenerates from his Twelfth incarnation to her Thirteenth, she relives memories from her many lives, showcasing unseen adventures from EVERY version of the Doctor.

Written by award-winning Doctor Who alumni Richard Dinnick and illustrated by Giorgia Sposito (Independence Day, Charmed, Wonderland) amongst a host of fantastic artists including fan-favorite Mariano Laclaustra, this is a perfect beginner's guide and a brilliant tribute for long-term fans to enjoy.

Thirteenth Doctor - Volume 0

Writer: Richard Dinnick
Artist: Giorgia Sposito, Mariano Laclaustra and various
Cover: Claudia Iannicello

They say that before you die, your life flashes before your eyes... and the Doctor has lived a lot of lives!

The ultimate Doctor Who celebration, a perfect beginner's guide and a brilliant tribute for long-term fans! As the Doctor regenerates into her Thirteenth form, she relives unseen adventures from every single one of her past lives – with a host of brilliant artists including Giorgia Sposito and Claudia Ianniciello!