A piano version of the Doctor Who theme has been released by the Russian pianist Sonya Belousova.

The award winning performer, born in Saint- Petersburg, is well known for her performances in the Cosplay Piano Series, released on YouTube.

In the tribute to Doctor Who she appears from the TARDIS to perform in a series of costumes based on the twelve Doctors.

The new video is directed by long term fan Tom Grey, who told MashableThe duo will also release a darker I Am The Doctor theme cover this year.

Doctor Who has become an issue in the British General Election with the Independent reporting that the leader of the UK Independence party is calling on the BBC to stop making popular entertainment programming.

Nigel Farage told a public meeting in Rochester that the BBC should be "cut back to the bone". He said the licence fee should be cut to a third of its current value and the Corporation should be "purely a public service broadcaster with an international reach". Examples of public service broadcasting include local news coverage, arts programmes and religious broadcasts, but does not include programmes such as Doctor Who, Strictly Come Dancing, and Top Gear.

Meanwhile the Mirror, a Labour supporting paper, is reporting that Doctor Who is better under Labour governments. The paper reckons that episodes shown when the Conservatives are in power, score lower appreciation figures on IMDB than episodes shown when Labour are in charge.

The series was created in 1963 under a Conservative Government, and returned in 2005 under a Labour administration.

The BBC have released a new promotional image for Series Nine, featuring a monster from the third block, currently filming in South Wales:

Panini, the publishers of Doctor Who Magazine, who acquired the licence for Doctor Who Adventures magazine, will release their first issue this Thursday, 23rd April 2015.

"Doctor Who Adventures has changed its look and is now ageing up in profile to appeal to readers of all ages from 5 - 1005!"

Inside the new issue:

• Empire’s Fall
  A 9 page strip story with art by Russ Leach, script by Jason Quinn and colours by Panini veteran John Burns.
• UNIT Alien Archives
  Readers will be able to access UNIT’s top secret alien archives to find out all about the deadly Skovox Blitzer as seen in last season’s The Caretaker.
• World Of Science
  Readers will then be able to join the Doctor as he experiments with science. After reading this issue, you need never fear a blackout again, especially if you happen to have a bag of fruit, some alligator clips and an LED light bulb in your pockets.
• Strax’s Guide To The Galaxy
  Everyone’s favourite Sontaran will be showing you some of the best and worst places in the universe as he takes you to the moon, Mars, Alfa Metraxis and Sontar!
• Twisted Conundrums
  While the Doctor and Clara are busy saving planet Earth, you can help them by completing a series of fiendish puzzles and activities.
• The Paternoster Gang Investigates
  Then it’s off back to the 19th Century to join Madame Vastra, Jenny Flint and Strax as they investigate the singular case of the Blue Men of the Minch in this three-page story.

"With games, posters, puzzles and makes, Doctor Who Adventures will take you to incredible new worlds and introduce you to some of the most wonderful beings in the universe!"

Issue 1 comes with Free 3D glasses, notepad and stickers!
On sale 23rd April 2015, price £3.99

David Tennant has been signed up to host a celebration of William Shakespeare to mark the 400th anniversary of the playwright's death.

The special event will broadcast live, on BBC Two next April, from the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon. It will feature a variety bill inspired by Shakespeare and performed by major international talent. It will celebrate Shakespeare's enduring influence on all the performing art forms from opera to jazz, from ballet to musicals.

Tennant joined the RSC in 1996 playing Touchstone in As You Like It. He went on to play the leading role in Romeo and Juliet, and Antipholus of Syracuse in The Comedy of Errors, for which he received a nomination in the 2000 Ian Charleson awards for Best Classical Actor under 30. He returned to the RSC to play Berowne in Love's Labour's Lost and a much acclaimed Hamlet in 2008. In Winter 2012 he played the title role in Richard II.

Tony Hall, Director-General BBC, said:

Candy Jar Books have released the cover and details for their next book in the Lethbridge-Stewart saga:


Author David A McIntee (who also wrote the Brigadier-centric BBC Book The Face Of The Enemy) said:

Cover art is by Cosgrove Hall's background artist, Nathan Hudson, and the book also features an exclusive foreword written by Amanda Haisman, daughter of Lethbridge-Stewart creator Mervyn Haisman, in which she publically talks about her father and the legend he created for Doctor Who.

The book is available to pre-order from Candy Jar Books.

---

Coming up later in the year are Beast of Fang Rock by Andy Frankham-Allen and Terrance Dicks, and Mutually Assured Domination by Nick Walters.

Frankham-Allen, who wrote the series opener The Forgotten Son, said:
Walters said:

Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular is celebrating its first ever UK tour with a homage to the legendary Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover.



In advance of the forthcoming Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular which visits six cities across the UK from May 23rd, artwork has been released today to capture the monsters and characters from Doctor Who, alongside the musicians taking part in the tour.

Paying homage to the classic Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover designed by Sir Peter Blake for The Beatles in 1967, the design features a range of characters, past and present, including the Fifth Doctor Peter Davison who will be presenting the Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular tour.

The line-up also features a range of fan favourites including the current and last three incarnations of the Doctor - Peter Capaldi, Matt Smith, David Tennant and Christopher Eccleston - as well as their respective companions. Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular’s take on the iconic album cover also features a range of monsters from the show including the Daleks, Cybermen, Judoon and Dream Crabs.

Murray Gold, who scored the Doctor Who music since 2005 also features on the image, along with conductor Ben Foster, Welsh soprano Elin Manahan Thomas and a number of the members of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and BBC National Chorus of Wales taking part in the tour.

The tour visits London, Cardiff, Birmingham, Leeds, Newcastle and finishes in Glasgow. Tickets are on sale online

Christopher Eccleston has been talking about his time on Doctor Who in a rare interview on BBC Radio 4.

Eccleston was appearing on the Saturday evening discussion programme Loose Ends, primarily to promote his role in Safe House, a four-part drama on ITV from 20 April.

Eccleston was interviewed by Emma Freud in a wide ranging talk about his career. When asked about Doctor Who, he told Freud how he had put himself forward for the role. Freud asked him if he felt he had succeeded. So why did he leave? Freud pushed the point saying it was a big shock to fans when he left, and he had been so successful in the role he could still be playing it now. The full programme can be heard worldwide on the BBC iPlayer for the next four weeks.

Big Finish has revealed the story details and writers for June's Doctor Who - The First Doctor Companion Chronicles Box Set...

The set stars original series companions Carole Ann Ford, Maureen O'Brien and Peter Purves, performing stories set within and beyond the adventures of the First Doctor (as portrayed by William Hartnell).

Doctor Who - The First Doctor Companion Chronicles Box Set is released in June on CD and Download, and until July 1st is at a pre-order price of £20 on CD and £15 on Download.

Silva Screen have revealed details of the soundtrack release for Series 8 and Last Christmas, which will be released on 18th of May 2015.

The soundtrack is available to pre-order now.