Doctor Who in Germany

Monday, 24 October 2005 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

According to a press release from the BBC, Germany is the latest country to acquire the new series, through a deal with commercial broadcaster ProSieben; the show will be seen on the German private TV station "Pro7". The sale was announced at the closing day of MIPCOM, the international audiovisual content market in Cannes. "ProSieben have licensed both the first series ... and the second series, which is currently in production. Russell T Davies' first series of Doctor Who attracted huge ratings and received critical acclaim when it aired on BBC ONE earlier this year. Announcing the deal, Isabelle Helle, Head of Germany, BBC Worldwide, said: 'The series has gained iconic status outside of the UK as well and has already been licensed to broadcasters in sixteen countries worldwide. We are excited that Doctor Who's time travelling will now take him to ProSieben so that viewers in Germany can also enjoy the adventures of the Time Lord and his companions.' ProSieben Head of Programming, Thomas Schultheis, said about the deal: 'Doctor Who is one of the most clever and entertaining series to come from Great Britain. The production values are visibly high and Russell T Davies' scripts provide top quality entertainment for a wide range of viewers: from science fiction fans to family audiences.'" The series is likely to start on ProSieben next year. The story was first announced on the German website www.wunschliste.de. (Thanks to Harald Gehlen, Steve Tribe, Martin Hoscik)

FILTER: - Press - Broadcasting

UK, Australia DVD News

Monday, 24 October 2005 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

At the Stamp Centre signing last Thursday, Tom Baker noted that he had recorded commentaries for two DVD releases, "Genesis of the Daleks" alongside David Maloney and "The Hand of Fear" with actress Judith Parris, the day before, while Nick Courtneymentioned that he had recorded one for "Inferno". As has been noted before, these recordings are not indications that DVD releases are imminent, but merely take advantage of the actors' presence in London and their schedules. However, this fits in with rumors Outpost Gallifrey has heard about potential releases for 2006.

Also, we have been told that the release of the first series boxed set has now been confirmed for 8 December in Australia. (Thanks to David Brider, Tony Keywood)

FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

BBC 2005 TV Moments

Monday, 24 October 2005 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

According to the BBC Press Office, voting opens today for viewers to select their favourite television moments of the year, the results of which will be presented by Jonathan Ross at the end of the year. The nominations are broken down into two-month periods, and 'the kiss between Rose and the Doctor in The Parting of the Ways' is one of the selections for May to June. Viewers can vote atwww.bbc.co.uk/tvmoments.

Update: The Doctor Who selection now appears to have changed to a scene from "The Doctor Dances": 'I'm here now! Can't you see me?' in the child's room, after the tape has run out.

FILTER: - Press

Church to Torchwood?

Wednesday, 19 October 2005 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

Today's Daily Sar says that singer Charlotte Church "will become Face of a Devil in the new 'adults-only' Dr Who spin-off. BBC bosses want the 19-year-old beauty to play a raunchy, Satan-worshipping villain in 13-part series Torchwood. The Beeb's new 'fun and sexy' sci-fi drama is being shot in her native Cardiff and stars one of her favourite TV hunks, John Barrowman, 38. ... A source on the show, which airs next summer, said: 'Charlotte's a big fan of the show, so she was thrilled when we approached her with the part. As Torchwood is designed for adults, we can be a lot more risque with content.'" Of course, this 'exclusive' report may or may not have any truth in it.

FILTER: - Torchwood

UKGold Ad Campaign

Wednesday, 19 October 2005 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

UKGold has launched a billboard campaign all over Britain for their forthcoming Doctor Who week, which vary from location to location -- but many contain a Dalek from the new series and the tagline "Watch Doctor Who Week Or Die". As Outpost Gallifrey previously reported, all 13 episodes of the first season of the new Doctor Who series will air beginning this Sunday, October 23 at 7:00pm, continuing throughout the week; check out the calendar here on the news page for timing. (Thanks to Anthony Forth)

FILTER: - Broadcasting

Beginning Box Delay

Wednesday, 19 October 2005 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

According to 2Entertain and BBC Worldwide, the DVD boxed set release of Doctor Who: The Beginning, featuring the stories "An Unearthly Child," "The Daleks" and "The Edge of Destruction," has been delayed to January 30 due to manufacturing issues. The set was previously announced as being released on January 9.

FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

April BBC Books

Wednesday, 19 October 2005 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

BBC Books has issued details of its three hardcover Doctor Who novels due out on 13 April 2006, featuring the Tenth Doctor and Rose and set during the second series that begins next spring. The Amazon retail site now carries brief descriptions of each of the three books, which are printed below. Amazon also lists these as audio books due out on 3 April, though it is unclear as to whether this is incorrect or if BBC Books is releasing abridged readings on CD. (Thanks to Ryan Piekenbrock)

The Feast of the Drowned, by Stephen Cole
When a naval cruiser sinks in mysterious circumstances in the North Sea, all aboard are lost. Rose is saddened to learn that the brother of her friend, Keisha, was among the dead. And yet he appears to them as a ghostly apparition, begging to be saved from the coming feast... the feast of the drowned. As the dead crew haunt loved ones all over London, the Doctor and Rose are drawn into a chilling mystery. What sank the ship, and why? When the cruiser's wreckage was towed up the Thames, what sinister force came with it? The river's dark waters are hiding an even darker secret, as preparations for the feast near their conclusion...

The Resurrection Casket, by Justin Richards
Starfall - a world on the edge, where crooks and smugglers hide in the gloomy shadows and modern technology refuses to work. And that includes the TARDIS. The pioneers who used to be drawn by the hope of making a fortune from the mines can find easier picking elsewhere. But they still come - for the romance of it, or old-fashioned organic mining. Or in the hope of finding the lost treasure of Hamlek Glint - scourge of the spaceways, privateer, adventurer, bandit... Will the TARDIS ever work again? Is Glint's lost treasure waiting to be found? And does the fabled Resurrection Casket - the key to eternal life - really exist? With the help of new friends, and to the horror of new enemies, The Doctor and Rose aim to find out...

The Stone Rose, by Jacqueline Rayner
Mickey is startled to find a statue of Rose in a museum - a statue that is 2,000 years old. The Doctor realises that this means the TARDIS will shortly take them to Ancient Rome, but when it does, he and Rose soon have more on their minds than sculpture. While the Doctor searches for a missing boy, Rose befriends a girl who claims to know the future - a girl whose predictions are surprisingly accurate. But then the Doctor stumbles on the hideous truth behind the statue of Rose - and Rose herself learns that you have to be very careful what you wish for...

FILTER: - Books

More on Torchwood

Tuesday, 18 October 2005 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

According to an appearance today by John Barrowman on the chat show "Loose Women" on ITV, a couple of interesting items were revealed about Torchwood... including the fact that it might be repeated on BBC One after its BBC Three run, and that "nobody will know how Jack gets back from the future" to present-day Cardiff (building on the fact that he's stranded at the end of the first Doctor Who series). Today's Daily Star ran a picture of a Dalek, with the caption: "Steamy: Even Daleks might hit trouble with the new hero" (though who knows if they'd ever appear in the show!)

Additional press coverage today includes The Sun, The Mirror, ic Wales, The Western Mail, Dark Horizons,Brand Republic,Edmonton Sun, In The News, The Daily Record, Ananova,SciFi.com, Monsters and Critics, Sky Showbiz, Scoopt,Canada.com, as well as in web-only editions of the Daily Star, the Telegraph, Press Association and other news sources. (Thanks to Paul Hayes, Chuck Foster, Matt Dale, Peter Weaver)

FILTER: - Torchwood

Canadian Series Sale and DVD Release

Tuesday, 18 October 2005 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

According to a BBC press release today, BBC Worldwide Canada has concluded a raft of programming deals and ventures with major networks at this year's MIPCOM conference including a "major licensing deal with CBC Television for the second series of the latest Doctor Who adventures following the critical success of the first series. The deal includes a Christmas special, hosted by Billie Piper exclusively for CBC viewers that air on Boxing Day. The new 13 part adventure is currently filming in Wales and is due to air on CBC in 2006."

Noted within the press release is the fact that "BBC Video is planning to release series one on DVD in February 2006." Outpost Gallifrey has checked with BBC Video today and has been told that they will be releasing the Series One Boxed Set in Canada on February 14. (While there are no US distribution plans for this boxed set due to a lack of a broadcaster, the fact that the DVD is in Canada's NTSC format, shared with the US, suggests there should be a relative ease in acquiring it.)

Update: the official BBC press release and the Doctor Who website have now revised their information to include the February 14 date. The Doctor Who website also states that "It will be a five disc box set, with the same extras as the UK (but with no audio description tracks or subtitles for the commentaries)."

The broadcast of "The Christmas Invasion" on December 26 is expected to be a day after it airs in the UK; the current expected date of transmission of the story in the UK is currently December 25. (Thanks to Benjamin Elliott, Christopher Yonge and Martin Hoscik/Unit News)

FILTER: - Canada - Press - Broadcasting

New DWM Publications

Monday, 17 October 2005 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

The latest issue of "Doctor Who Magazine" confirms publication on Thursday 17 November of its next special edition, "Doctor Who In Their Own Words", and of the first volume of Eighth Doctor comic strips in the graphic novel Endgame, also expected in November. Issue 363 of DWM will begin the final Ninth Doctor comic strip, A Groatsworth of Wit by Gareth Roberts and Mike Collins.

FILTER: - Magazines - DWM

Previous 10 Stories

Doctor Who in Germany

UK, Australia DVD News

BBC 2005 TV Moments

Church to Torchwood?

UKGold Ad Campaign

Beginning Box Delay

April BBC Books

More on Torchwood

Canadian Series Sale and DVD Release

New DWM Publications

This Week in Doctor Who

ARCHIVE

FILTER