SFX 265

Tuesday, 18 August 2015 - Reported by Chuck Foster

The latest edition of SFX features a special look at the forthcoming series of Doctor Who, chatting to its stars Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman, and lead writer Steven Moffat.

Talking about the evolution of the Doctor, Peter Capaldi said:

What I find interesting is that the Doctor is still sort of looking for himself. So he’s changed to some degree. He still has the same concerns and worries and darkness, if you like, but he’s embracing the present. But that’s really because he has a profound knowledge of the past and the future.

Jenna Coleman on Clara:

In a way she doesn’t fear as much because she’s got nothing to lose anymore. Because she’s kind of lost everything (since Danny's death) and luckily the Doctor came back. But I think she no longer fears her own mortality in a way. Which obviously makes her a very reckless companion. ... Clara in part thinks she’s a bit of the Doctor, and she really isn’t. She’s obviously human, and is obviously gonna get herself in a lot of trouble if she starts to think like that.

Talking about how far the format of the show can be pushed, Steven Moffat observed:

You have to treat the show like you own it. I don’t just mean me – I mean every writer, every director and
every actor that comes onto this show. I’m always saying, “It’s not a fancy heirloom. You’re not carrying this carefully to the next room. You’ve got to engage with it like you own it, otherwise it’s not a TV show, it’s a perfectly tended mausoleum.” At the same time I actually feel quite strongly that there is only so far you can go.

The magazine also includes a brief summary of what to expect during the twelve episode run; as to how the stories will be presented, he said:

Aside from having a lot more two-parters this time, we blur the lines between what’s a two-parter and what’s not: taking one strand of plot over two stories, that kind of thing. So you don’t quite know that everything is going to wrap up when you hit 43 minutes.

You can read the full interviews in the latest edition, out on Wednesday 19th August.

FILTER: - Magazines

Doctor Who Magazine 490

Tuesday, 18 August 2015 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Issue 490 of Doctor Who Magazine is on sale from Thursday, in which lead writer Steven Moffat previews the new series of Doctor Who:

"Why not start with a blockbuster?" says Steven of the two-part opening story, The Magician’s Apprentice and The Witch’s Familiar. "Why leave it till the last two weeks? So yes, it’s like starting with a finale, and having a big, grand, movie-sized story, as opposed to a 45-minute story."

What does Steven like about the longer format? "It allows you to play with certain things," he replies. "There's a kind of scale that you can attain in a two-parter, that you can't have in 45 minutes. It's a scale that we're not used to at the moment, as we haven't done two-parters for quite a while. And in a way, it's sort of advertising the fact that we've got two-parters back this year. We do things in that first episode that I would say are very 'two-parter-y'."

Also inside this issue:

THE SECRET DIARY OF THE MASTER! He’s mad, bad and dangerous to know… and now, DWM has discovered the secret diary of the Master, which reveals the insane thinking behind his... er, her every scheme!
LOST IN TRANSLATION Why does nearly everyone in Doctor Who speak English? Steve Lyons investigates the mystery of universal translation throughout the history of the series – and comes to some intriguing conclusions...
THE NAME OF THE DOCTOR? Showrunner Steven Moffat answers more readers’ questions – and presents a brand new scene which explores what the Doctor called himself during the Time War...
THE VAMPIRE MUTATIONS The Fourth Doctor and Romana encounter creatures with a thirst for blood – and an ancient enemy of the Time Lords – as the The Fact of Fiction explores the 1980 story State of Decay.
THE RETURN OF DANNY PINK Clara has a shocking reunion with her boyfriend in the brand-new comic strip adventure, Spirits of the Jungle, by Jonathan Morris, illustrated by John Ross.
TRAILS AND TRIBULATIONS Novelist, fan girl, and mum Jacqueline Rayner celebrates the joy of a new Doctor Who trailer in her regular column, Relative Dimensions.
IT’S THE END... The Time Team embark on a marathon viewing session as they sit down to watch David Tennant’s swansong as the Doctor: The End of Time.
THE COMPLETE HISTORY DWM takes a look at a landmark new series of books, which begins in September: Doctor Who The Complete History.
ON THEIR WAY... DWM talks to the people involved in the latest Doctor Who CD and book releases, including Dan Starkey, James Goss and Gary Russell.
THE UNEXPLAINED The Watcher examines some of the many unanswered questions in Doctor Who and celebrates a feisty equine talent in Wotcha!.

PLUS! All the latest official news, reviews, competitions and The DWM Crossword.

FILTER: - DWM - Magazines

The Music Of Doctor Who

Tuesday, 18 August 2015 - Reported by Chuck Foster

The latest special edition from the team behind Doctor Who Magazine delves into the music of Doctor Who:

THE NEW DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE SPECIAL IS MUSIC TO OUR EARS!

For the first time in the 36-year history of Doctor Who Magazine – an entire issue devoted to the music and sound design of Doctor Who!

From Delia Derbyshire’s groundbreaking experiments in the Radiophonic Workshop, to the acclaimed performances of Murray Gold’s orchestral scores at the Royal Albert Hall, The Music of Doctor Who explores one of the most celebrated and mysterious sonic landscapes in television history.

"We think this Special Edition is unprecedented in its scope and detail," says editor Marcus Hearn. "Writers such as Mark Ayres and Andrew Pixley have contributed a fresh insight to an aspect of the show’s production that’s been overlooked for too long."

Highlights of the issue include:

Interviews with Tristram Cary, Dudley Simpson and Orbital’s Paul Hartnoll.
Contributions from David Arnold, Neil Brand and Steven Moffat.
Sections devoted to every composer to have worked on the programme.
The strange world of library music.
The history of the Radiophonic Workshop.
The complete guide to pop music in Doctor Who.

Doctor Who Magzazine Special Edition: The Music of Doctor Who is out now.

FILTER: - DWM - Magazines

Mission DALEK!

Tuesday, 18 August 2015 - Reported by Marcus

The BBC has announced Mission DALEK, a new project which gives fans the chance to create their own adventures for the Doctor.

Mission DALEK is part of the BBC’s Make it Digital season and the aim is to get fans of the series to use their imagination and digital skills to create an adventure for the Doctor.

We know many Doctor Who fans make amazing videos or are fantastic at cosplay and love to get involved in a million marvellous ways. For those guys, this is a chance to hone and harness your passion and showcase your digital skills to the universe!

The aim is to unleash your digital creativity, whether it is in video, animation or image editing. You can use some of the range of clips and images supplied by the BBC or create your own story from scratch. Animation is allowed, as are voice overs and Cosplay. All you need to do is to tell your story digitally.

For UK participitents there is an added bonus of a chance to win a trip to the Doctor Who set, and to meet the Peter Capaldi.

Full details and resources are on the Mission Dalek Homepage.

Doctor Who: Mission DALEK trailer - BBC Make It Digital

FILTER: - Competitions

People Roundup

Monday, 17 August 2015 - Reported by Chuck Foster

A roundup of recent news relating to Doctor Who cast and crew:

Matt Smith has begun filming for a new drama for Netflix, The Crown, due to be broadcast in 2016. The ten-part series, based on the play The Audience, will follow the relationship between Queen Elizabeth (Claire Foy) and the prime ministers who have served during her monarchy, with Smith portraying her husband, Prince Philip. [Northampton Herald and Post, 11 Aug]
David Tennant will be portraying the character of 'baddy' Zebediah Killgrave in the television adaptation of the Marvel comic Jessica Jones. Jeff Loeb, Marvel's Head of Television, said: "In the same kind of way Vincent D’Onofrio owned his half of Daredevil, you’ll see David Tennant own his half of Jessica Jones… What you get out of Jessica is a sort of hold-your-breath tension as to what’s going to happen. When you see the dynamic between Krysten Ritter and David Tennant… that question of ‘What’s going to happen next?’ and ‘What could happen next?’ and how that’s driven by character is something that is so important to not just the scripts but also the way the show is shot, and the way that everyone reacts, and the way those two react with each other." [Science Fiction, 14 Aug]
Photo: Manchester Evening News
Christopher Eccleston led this year's tribute in Manchester to mark the anniversary of the Peterloo Massacre, where 15 protesters were killed when troops charged a political meeting there in 1819. The actor read from a speech delivered by Henry ‘Orator’ Hunt from the day. [Manchester Evening News, 16 Aug]
Colin Baker will be on hand to officially unveil a display of copies of the Doctor Who scripts by the show's first writer Anthony Coburn at Spoon Web (The DVD Shop) in Whitstable, Kent on Sunday 23rd August. The event also coincides with a Kickstarter campaign aimed to provide funding for the ongoing maintenance, improvement and promotion of the police box replica for Herne Bay TARDIS for Children in Need. [Facebook]
Tom Baker may be about to take on a role in the Star Wars franchise. A guest at the recent Day of the Doctors convention, he is reported as saying: "I'm going to be in this new Star Wars thing, you know? I'm going down to record some voices for this new character they've created for me, very soon" [various, including Sci-Fi Fantasy Network, Inquistr, 15 Aug]
Frazer Hines has been appearing in Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None, which this week reaches the Leeds Grand Theatre. Talking about portraying his character, Rogers, he said: "I suppose it’s my experience of being in the show business for over forty years that many could assume that Rogers, being just a butler, could be played just as a butler. But I worked out that he was in the First World War, in the army, so he has this straight-backed walk and respects the general in the play and respects the copper. So I’ve brought those little nuances into the character."

He also mentioned that the most common question he gets asked is what was it like to work with second Doctor Patrick Troughton: "A lovely man. Some of the happiest years of my show business career were working with Patrick Troughton in Doctor Who. But they all ask me that and I wish I had a pound for every time I’m asked that question. He was a lovely, lovely man and we had great fun working together. If I had an idea he wouldn’t say, “I’m the Doctor, you just shut up and be the assistant.” He’d turn and say, “Frazer, what a marvellous idea. Let’s do it.” I’d worked with him before in 1964, before Doctor Who had started and I was the star of that show, Smuggler’s Bay, and he was playing the part of an old smuggler. But a year or so later he was the star of Doctor Who and I was just joining in as Jamie for four episodes so the role was reversed. It was great, we just gelled straight away." [(Entertainment Focus, 14 Aug]
Speaking of And Then There Were None, a new BBC One production of the play has been announced, whose cast will feature Burn Gorman as William Blore and Anna Maxwell Martin as Ethel Rogers. [BBC Media Centre, 10 Jul]
Jenna Coleman has revealed one of the tricks of the trade employed during filming scenes with her co-star Peter Capaldi: I have to stand on an apple box when we’re filming - it’s called ‘Jenna’s Box’ and it gets brought out when I need to fit into a particular shot." [Express, 15 Aug]
Sir John Hurt can be heard as the lead role in Jeffrey Bernard Is Unwell, broadcast this weekend on BBC Radio 4; the play is described as "A dying Soho, seen through the eyes of the notorious columnist of The Spectator - plain-speaking drinker, gambler, wit and raconteur." It also features Nichola McAuliffe and Jeff Rawle. [BBC Radio 4, 15 Aug]

Speaking of his recent diagnosis of having pancreatic cancer, the actor observed: I can’t say I worry about mortality, but it’s impossible to get to my age and not have a little contemplation of it. We’re all just passing time, and occupy our chair very briefly. But my treatment is going terrifically well, so I’m optimistic." [Radio Times, 15 Aug]
Talking about his role in new film Pleasure Island, Samuel Anderson said: "I've played a lot of love interests - those kind of romantic roles, 'sweet boy' kind of thing - so it was brilliant to come in and just play an idiot. From when I read the script, I was hooked. Just the way Mike (Doxford, writer/director) had laid his characters out. You could feel it - each character was grounded and had a bit of weight to them. It was like, 'If I don't get the part, I can't wait to see the film'." [Digital Spy, 15 Aug]
On a possible return to Doctor Who, Anderson commented: "Maybe in an alternate universe? I wouldn't mind approaching him in a different way. Or maybe just come back as Orson Pink because then it changes the dynamic between him and the Doctor. If it's Orson Pink I think the relationship would be totally different because instead of a soldier – which is the kind of person the Doctor can't bear – you've got another scientist who could be quite interesting with their relationship. And then instead of it being a love interest with Clara and Danny, it would be a family affair with grandmother and grandson but at the same age." [Radio Times, 13 Aug]
Amidst speculation that he may be a future successor to Steven Moffat as the lead writer on Doctor Who, Toby Whithouse responded: "No-one at the BBC has ever had this conversation with me! No-one has asked me, no-one has approached me about if Steven leaves, when Steven leaves. These are conversations that happen purely among fans, not on any official level."

On writing for the show in general: "There’s a reason I go back to Doctor Who every year, and that’s because I absolutely love working on it! There is something so magical, so ludicrous about that show! ... The appeal never fades: I’m 45 now, and writing: ‘Interior: TARDIS’ at the top of a scene is still really, really exciting. You also get to tell these extraordinary stories that you couldn’t write for any other show." [The London Economic, 11th Aug]
Many media publications focussed on the casting of Bethany Black as being the first transgender actress to appear in the show. The comedian herself reflected on filming for the new series: "It is genuinely the greatest job I could ever have imagined getting. Everything about it is magical. I'm enjoying every day of filming and cherishing it, because you never know if you'll ever get to do anything like this again. I only hope that I do the role and the show justice, and that you all enjoy it. For me it's the gig of a lifetime." [Facebook]
A new series of Who Do You Think You Are? has started on BBC One, which this year will also include the exploration of the family history for Sir Derek Jacobi, Anne Reid and writer Mark Gatiss.
Arthur Darvill will be playing Rip Hunter in DC's Legends Of Tomorrow, with the character described as "a time-traveler tasked with assembling a group of villains and heroes together after he sees a future that could destroy everything. This unlikely squad must now stop these devastating future events from happening, but it won’t be easy." [Hollywire, 12 Aug]
Darvill can also be seen in the forthcoming fictional account of Lenny Henry's early life, Danny And The Human Zoo, which also features Richard Wilson and Mark Benton.
Colin Morgan will star in a new drama for BBC One, The Living And The Dead. [BBC Media Centre, 10th Aug]
A number of names previously associated with Doctor Who have been making appearances at Roath Lock Studios of late and getting their photos taken alongside the TARDIS's current 'owner' Peter Capaldi, including Waris Hussein, Georgia Moffett, David Tennant and Russell T Davies.

Earlier this week we were delighted that the legendary Waris Hussein - http://t.co/KxpbDk7SP7 - visited the TARDIS! pic.twitter.com/DqlCDwh4O1
— Doctor Who Official (@bbcdoctorwho) August 14, 2015

FILTER: - Arthur Darvill - Colin Baker - David Tennant - Frazer Hines - Jenna Coleman - John Hurt

BBC America confirm time for The Magician's Apprentice

Friday, 14 August 2015 - Reported by Chuck Foster

BBC America have now confirmed that they will broadcast the premiere of the next series of Doctor Who, The Magician's Apprentice at 9:00pm Eastern time (8:00pm Central) on Saturday 19th September.

Doctor Who returns on 19th September at 9/8c (Credit: BBC America)

BBC America is the first to announce a time for the episode, which sits in its now traditional evening prime-time slot on the channel; the BBC One premiere itself is unlikely to be confirmed until a couple of weeks before transmission, but is expected to be broadcast either before or after the channel's other big Saturday evening show, Strictly Come Dancing.

FILTER: - BBC America - Series 9/35 - USA

Dark Water/Death in Heaven 3D cinema outing for Denmark

Thursday, 13 August 2015 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Denmark is the latest country to have scheduled the 3D version of the Series 8 finale Dark Water & Death in Heaven in cinemas. The two episodes, plus the Series 9 preview, will be shown at Cinemaxx cinemas in Copenhagen, Odense and Aarhus on the 16th September (two showings at 6:00pm and 8:45pm).

Doctor Who: Dark Water and Death in Heaven 3D - poster (Credit: BBC)

Er du fan af den udødelige engelske tv-serie 'Doctor Who'? Så er du det, man kalder en “whovian”, og der er godt nyt til dig! BBC og CinemaxX fortsætter deres samarbejde, når de onsdag den 16. september blænder op for en 3D-visning af de dramatiske sidste to afsnit af seriens sæson 8 samt en aldrig før vist "prequel" til sæson 9's første afsnit. Udover det bliver doktoren selv, Peter Capaldi, og den kvindelige hovedrolle, Clara, spillet af Jenna Coleman, interviewet af skuespiller Wil Wheaton.

'Doctor Who' er en institution i britisk kultur og er blevet kult i det meste af den vestlige verden. Serien blev skabt i 1963 og kørte uafbrudt indtil 1989. I 1996 blev den forsøgt genoplivet, men først i 2005 lykkedes det, og den nuværende serie kører altså nu på 9. sæson.

Selve figuren, som bare omtales som The Doctor, er et tidsrejsende rumvæsen i menneskekrop, en såkaldt Time Lord fra planeten Gallifrey. Han flygtede i en TARDIS tidsmaskine - "Time and Relative Dimension In Space" - som er en kamæleon-maskine, der kan påtage sig diverse lokale objekters udseende. Men på grund af en fejl i TARDIS' "kamæleon-kredsløb" ligner tidsmaskinen nu og for evigt en blå, engelsk politiboks - et af de ikoniske billeder fra serien.

Denmark joins the United States (Fathom Events) and Canada (Front Row Centre Events/Cineplex Entertainment) in presenting the episodes in 3D in cinema.

The episodes are not currently planned to be shown in the United Kingdom, with a quote from BBC Worldwide to Sci-Fi Bulletin stating: “Due to the number of events taking place for Doctor Who this year including the Symphonic Spectacular and the Doctor Who Festival, we decided against showing the episodes in UK cinema."

The 3D special is expected to be released on Blu-ray in North America on 22nd September:

Doctor Who: Dark Water / Death in Heaven 3D - Blu-ray (Credit: BBC Worldwide)

Doctor Who’s eighth season drew to a close with an epic 2 part finale. The Doctor finally comes face to face with the mysterious Missy, who has been laying the groundwork for a dastardly scheme. Left with no other choice, old friends must unite against old enemies as the Cybermen terrorize the streets of London. Own the thrilling conclusion to the record-breaking season – now combined into one spectacular feature-length 3D extravaganza!

Special Features:

Deleted scene
An exclusive prequel scene to season 9
An interview with Steven Moffat, Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman discussing the latest season, and what’s next for Doctor Who

A release of the story in the UK and other regions has yet to be announced (it is currently unknown if the North American version will be region-free).

FILTER: - Cinema - Denmark - Series 8/34 - Special Events

Second Series 9 Trailer Released

Wednesday, 12 August 2015 - Reported by Harry Ward

The BBC have this evening released a second trailer for new series of Doctor Who.

Doctor Who Series 9 Trailer #2

FILTER: - Doctor Who - Series 9/35

Tenth and Eleventh Doctor Comics - Sneak Preview

Wednesday, 12 August 2015 - Reported by Marcus

This week sees the release of the penultimate Doctor Who: Tenth Doctor by Nick Abadzis and Rachael Stott with Leonardo Romero, and the finale of Doctor Who: Eleventh Doctor penned by Al Ewing and Rob Williams and art by Simon Fraser.

DOCTOR WHO: TENTH DOCTOR #14

Separated by an ancient force from the centre of the galaxy, the Doctor takes a cosmic trip into the history of the universe, while Gabby must negotiate with an unearthly intelligence for the sake of the planet!

DOCTOR WHO: TENTH DOCTOR #14 (Credit: Titan)

DOCTOR WHO: ELEVENTH DOCTOR #15

It's the end... But the moment has been prepared for! The first year of the Eleventh Doctor finishes on an astounding high!

DOCTOR WHO: ELEVENTH DOCTOR #15 (Credit: Titan)

FILTER: - Comics - Eleventh Doctor - Tenth Doctor

Doctor Who: Glamour Chronicles

Monday, 10 August 2015 - Reported by Marcus

BBC Books have announced three new novels in the Doctor Who: Glamour Chronicles series, featuring the 12th Doctor Peter Capaldi.

The novels Royal Blood by Una McCormack, Big Bang Generation by Gary Russell, and Deep Time by Trevor Baxendale, are all released on Septmeber 10th

DOCTOR WHO: ROYAL BLOOD

AN ORIGINAL NOVEL BY UNA McCORMACK, PART OF THE GLAMOUR CHRONICLES

“The Grail is a story, a myth! It didn’t exist on your world! It can’t exist here!”

The city-state of Varuz is failing. Duke Aurelian is the last of his line, his capital is crumbling, and the armies of his enemy, Duke Conrad, are poised beyond the mountains to invade. Aurelian is preparing to gamble everything on one last battle. So when a holy man, the Doctor, comes to Varuz from beyond the mountains, Aurelian asks for his blessing in the war.

However, all is not what it seems in Varuz. The cityguards have lasers for swords, and the halls are lit by electric candlelight. Aurelian’s beloved wife, Guena, and his most trusted knight, Bernhardt, seem to be plotting to overthrow their Duke, and Clara finds herself drawn into their intrigue...

Will the Doctor stop Aurelian from going to war? Will Clara’s involvement in the plot against the Duke be discovered? Why is Conrad’s ambassador so nervous? And who are the ancient and weary knights who arrive in Varuz claiming to be on a quest for the Holy Grail?

Una McCormack is a New York Times bestselling author. She has written two Doctor Who novels featuring the Eleventh Doctor, Amy and Rory: The King's Dragon and The Way through the Woods, as well as several audio dramas for Big Finish. She lives in Cambridge with her partner, Matthew, and their daughter, Verity.

DOCTOR WHO: BIG BANG GENERATION

AN ORIGINAL NOVEL BY GARY RUSSELL, PART OF THE GLAMOUR CHRONICLES

“I'm an archaeologist, but probably not the one you were expecting.”

Christmas 2015, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Imagine everyone's surprise when a time portal opens up in Sydney Cove. Imagine their shock as a massive pyramid now sits beside the Harbour Bridge, inconveniently blocking Port Jackson and glowing with energy. Imagine their fear as Cyrrus "the mobster" Globb, Professor Horace Jaanson and an alien assassin called Kik arrive to claim the glowing pyramid. Finally imagine everyone's dismay when they are followed by a bunch of con artists out to spring their greatest grift yet.

This gang consists of Legs (the sexy comedian), Dog Boy (providing protection and firepower), Shortie (handling logistics), Da Trowel (in charge of excavation and history) and their leader, Doc (busy making sure the universe isn't destroyed in an explosion that makes the Big Bang look like a damp squib).

And when someone accidentally reawakens The Ancients of Time, things get a whole lot more complicated...

Gary Russell has worked widely as an actor, magazine editor, reviewer, novelist, audio producer and script editor. His non-fiction work includes books on the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy, The Simpsons and Frasier. He is a former editor of the official Doctor Who Magazine, the author of several Doctor Who novels and non-fiction books, and was producer for Big Finish Productions of the monthly New Doctor Who Adventures from 1998 to 2006. He is now a member of the script-editing team on Doctor Who and Torchwood.

DOCTOR WHO: DEEP TIME

AN ORIGINAL NOVEL BY TREVOR BAXENDALE, PART OF THE GLAMOUR CHRONICLES

‘I do hope you’re all ready to be terrified!’

The Phaeron disappeared from the universe over a million years ago. They travelled among the stars using roads made from time and space, but left only relics behind. But what actually happened to the Phaeron? Some believe they were they eradicated by a superior force. Others claim they destroyed themselves.

Or were they in fact the victims of an even more hideous fate?

In the far future, humans discover the location of the last Phaeron road – and the Doctor and Clara join the mission to see where the road leads. Each member of the research team knows exactly what they are looking for – but only the Doctor knows exactly what they’ll find. Because only the Doctor knows the true secret of the Phaeron: a monstrous secret so terrible and powerful that it must be buried in the deepest grave imaginable...

Trevor Baxendale has written both Doctor Who and Torchwood novels for BBC Books, including Eater of Wasps, The Undertaker's Gift and the award-winning Prisoner of the Daleks. His novel Fear of the Dark was reprinted in 2013 as part of Doctor Who's 50th Anniversary celebrations. He has also written scripts for Big Finish's Doctor Who, Robin Hood and Highlander audio plays, and most recently the full cast audio drama Blake’s 7: Scimitar. His Blake's 7 novel, Criminal Intent, was published in November 2014. He has also written various adaptations for schools in Pearson’s Bugclub range. Deep Time is his 10th novel.

FILTER: - Books - Twelfth Doctor

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