Paul Cornell has been talking to Doctor Who News, prior to the launch of Titan's Doctor Who Summer event, which sees four Doctors take part in the 5-part weekly comics series written by Cornell and illustrated by Neil Edwards.

Cornell told us he approached by Titan's editor Andrew James to work on the series. He was introduced to artist's Neil Edward's prior work and was 'blown away' by the all-round quality including 'body language' and 'special effects'. He said that meant he was able to really be 'free' with the all-important dialogue and interaction between the three (and more!) Doctors.

With Cornell being as knowledgeable a writer as any for the TV series, as well as being keen to please the comic readership, he has focused on letting the Doctors be with one another as much as possible. Ten doesn't trust Twelve at all, and Twelve can't or won't explain how he can even exist. Eleven tries to moderate between them.

He also said he was going to pay the due care and attention for major companions Gabby and Alice (who have been in the respective 10th and 11th Doctor strips), as well as contemporary TV companion Clara Oswald. Each female assistant has the honour of "[narrating] at least one issue, [thus providing] a good way for new readers to meet them. "

Paul Cornell wisely kept some of his cards to his chest, knowing that surprise and dramatic effect is vital. However he did confirm that the plot is a bit of a summer blockbuster, in that it's more a timey-wimey rollercoaster, with a few old monsters, but it's all about how the Doctors react to what's being thrown at them.  And how their companions react to other Doctors.  "

He also was quite positive that this major event would have its own consequences for the ongoing Titan lines. As to the key event or device shaping the story: "[It is] a photograph that could destroy the universe."

In closing, Cornell agreed that the incredible comeback Doctor Who enjoyed was simply more than any casual TV viewer or die hard fan could have hoped for, back when he was helping 'keep the flame alive' by writing his groundbreaking New Adventures novels in the 1990s. He paid tribute to both main showrunners Russell T Davies and Steven Moffat for making anything possible for the TV show.

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The full interview can be read on Doctor Who Reviews

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Doctor Who: Four Doctors launches on Wednesday August 12, supported by Doctor Who Comics Day on Saturday August 15. In addition to the previously announced covers, a number of variant covers are available to pick up on Doctor Who Comics Day from stores including: Alien Entertainment; Books-A-Million; Borderlands; Cafe Anime; Forbidden Planet; Geppi's Entertainment Museum; Hastings; Hot Topic; Jester Comics; Newbury Comics; Third Eye; Twilight Comics; and The Who Shop.

Strax, the Sontaran butler to Victorian investigator Vastra and her wife Jenny, will be swapping the Paternoster Gang for a short spell with Jago and Litefoot in a new audio special from Big Finish Productions, produced under licence from BBC Worldwide.

In Jago & Liitefoot & Strax, the Sontaran suffers a disorienting attack, mistakes the two Victorian investigators for Jenny and Vastra. Together, they are on the trail of a creature that is stealing brains, which may or may not be linked to a haunted house in London.

The characters of Jago and LItefoot, played by Christopher Benjamin and Trevor Baxter, were created by Robert Holmes and first appeared opposite Tom Baker’s Fourth Doctor in The Talons of Weng Chiang in 1977. Over 30 years later they were reunited on audio by Big Finish, with a tenth series due for release in October.

Producer David Richardson said Dan Starkey, who first played Strax on TV opposite Matt Smith in A Good Man Goes to War, says: Jago & Litefoot & Strax will be released as a two-disc special in November 2015 and will be launched at the Doctor Who festival which takes place at the Excel On November 13, 14 and 15. It is available for pre-order.

Jago & Litefoot: Series 10 will be available in October. Series 1-9 are available now.

Actor, comedian and award winning writer Reece Shearsmith is to join Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman in a guest role in an upcoming episode of Doctor Who, written by Mark Gatiss.

Shearsmith has previously played Patrick Troughton in a docu-drama about the conception and making of Doctor Who, An Adventure in Space and Time. He returns to Cardiff for a part in the adventure, directed by Justin Molotnikov and produced by Nikki Wilson.

Most famously known for his work as part of The League of Gentlemen along with fellow performers Steve Pemberton, Mark Gatiss and co-writer Jeremy Dyson, Shearsmith comments on his casting: Mark Gatiss, writer of the episode, added: Shearsmith will be joined by Elaine Tan (Eastenders, Entourage), Neet Mohan (All in Good Time, Desert Dancer), Bethany Black (Cucumber, Banana) and Paul Courtenay Hyu (Dalziel and Pascoe, Coronation Street), in the episode, currently the ninth in the new series.

Series Nine begins Saturday 19th September.

One of the Dalek props, used in the 2013 drama based on the creation of Doctor Who, An Adventure In Space And Time, it to go up for auction next month.

The Prop Store Entertainment Memorabilia live auction, will be held on the 23rd of September at the BFI IMAX in London. A free preview exhibition will also take place in the run up to the auction, opening on the 9th September to the public and showcasing over 250 pieces of the collection on offer.

The Dalek, which has a guide price of £4,000 - £6,000, was based on the original Dalek design by Raymond Cusick, first seen in 1963. Also up for auction is a shooting script from the docu-drama.

Other sci-fi items in the auction include Leonard Nimoy’s Spock Costume from Star Trek, a Stormtrooper Helmet from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes back and Christopher Reeve’s Superman Tunic. Two of the least expensive lots in the sale are a helmet worn by the Knights of the Round Table from Monty Python and the Holy Grail estimated at £200 - £300, and a lot of Quad Posters from Blade Runner’s original 1982 release, estimated to sell for £200.

Prospective bidders can register for the auction now by visiting the auction website.

The BBC has released a new 'iconic' image from the first episode of the new series of Doctor Who, The Magician's Apprentice:



The series returns on Saturday 19th September.

The fifth edition of the new version of Doctor Who Adventures is released on the 13th August

In the issue

• TRUST
  The Doctor takes Clara back to the liberation of Paris in World War Two for the biggest party the party capital of the world has ever seen, but things soon go awry when the deadly Darapok Empire try to take over the war weary city. Take a summer trip to Paris in 1944 in TRUST written by Jason Quinn, illustrated by Russ Leach and coloured by John Burns, it’s going to be a party you will never forget!
• THE FEAR FACTOR
  Do the Weeping Angels make you weep with terror, or do Scarecrows have you screaming for mercy? Or will you run howling from the Autons and the Racnoss? Find out which of the Doctor’s enemies would be most effective against you in battle in this issue’s Fear Factor quiz.
• VORTEX MANIPULATOR
  Clara takes you into the TARDIS Craft Studio and shows you how to create your own mini-vortex in the safety of your home…
• UNIT ALIEN ARCHIVES
  The best way to survive an alien attack is to know all about your enemies and we’re giving you access to the UNIT Archive on the Weeping Angels, so you’ll know what to do if they come hunting for you.
• STRAX’S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY
  This month, Strax shows you the delights you can expect to find on Karn, Krop Tor, and Midnight before whisking you away to the end of the universe to meet Futurekind on Malcassairo.
• TIME LORDS AT WAR
  They’ve faced off against each other many times before but who really has the edge? Who do you think would win the final showdown – the Doctor or Missy?
• IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE
  Get ready for an awesome adventure in this cool board game, where you get to be either the Doctor or Missy as you try to escape from the Weeping Angels and make your way to the safety of the TARDIS.
• THE PATERNOSTER GANG INVESTIGATES
  It’s back to Victorian London where Madame Vastra, Jenny Flint and Strax are employed by the Prime Minister to protect the inventor of… a time machine? As they find themselves targeted by enemy agents, Vastra asks herself, are humans ready for time travel?

Issue 5 comes with a Free Dalek notepad and pencils and special make your own Doctor Who scene stickers. On sale 13th August 2015, price £3.99

NASA have released plans for the naming of areas of Pluto's moon Charon, based upon the International Astronomical Union's recommendations that these would relate to "destinations and milestones of fictional space and other exploration; fictional and mythological vessels of space and other exploration; fictional and mythological voyagers, travellers and explorers."

This has led to proposals of names from a number of sci-fi shows including Doctor Who, which sees a large crater on the surface named "Gallifrey Macula", with a nearby rift named "TARDIS Chasma". Star Trek is honoured with a plain named the "Vulcan Planum", containing craters such as "Spock" and "Sulu" and mons like "Kirk" and "Uhura" - there are also features named after Star Wars characters, and also sci-fi writers/directors such as Arthur C Clarke and Stanley Kubrick (2001: A Space Odyssey).


The names are to be submitted to the IAU for final approval.

There are still tickets available to see Peter Capaldi live in conversation at The Civic, Auckland, New Zealand, taking place on the 24th November 2015.

Doctor Who fans in the United States will get a chance to relive the climax of series 8 with a special 3D screening, in selected movie theatres, of last year's two part finale, Dark Water / Death in Heaven.

The event, organised by BBC Worldwide North America and Fathom Events will see the return of Doctor Who to the big screen for just two nights in a special theatrical event. In the two-part finale, the Doctor comes face-to-face with the mysterious Missy, and an impossible choice looms. With Cybermen on the streets of London, old friends unite against old enemies, and the Doctor takes to the air in a startling new role.

Doctor Who: Dark Water/Death in Heaven, will be presented in RealD™ 3D and Dolby Atmos sound (where available) on September 15 and 16 at 7:30 p.m. (local time), just before the launch of Series Nine on BBC America the following Saturday.

The event will feature The Doctor’s Meditation — a special prequel scene to the first episode of Season 9 — and an exclusive interview with Doctor Who stars Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman, hosted by Wil Wheaton (Big Bang Theory, Star Trek: Nemesis).

At present there are no plans for the event to be screened in UK Cinemas. BBC Worldwide told Sci-Fi Bulletin It is expected that the two episodes will be released on Blu-ray in 3D at the end of September.

Tickets for Doctor Who: Dark Water/Death in Heaven in 3D can be purchased online starting Friday, July 31 by visiting FathomEvents.com, or participating theatre box offices. The event will be shown throughout the U.S. in approximately 700 movie theatres through Fathom’s Digital Broadcast Network.

This Wednesday sees the release of three Doctor Who comics, featuring the Ninth, Tenth and Twelfth Doctors.

The Ninth Doctor, Jack and Rose are caught between a heavily-armed intergalactic standoff, while The Tenth and Twelfth Doctors are Earthbound, Stateside. The Tenth Doctor is challenged with protecting New York city from an ominous looming pyramid and the Twelfth Doctor and Clara take on a toxic mix of mobsters and invading aliens in 60's Vegas!