Series 3 Volume 1 DVD

Monday, 2 April 2007 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

Outpost Gallifrey has received the cover illustration for the UK release of theSeries Three, Volume One DVD disc, due out on 21 May 2007. The disc includes the episodes "Smith and Jones," "The Shakespeare Code" and "Gridlock". Click on the thumbnail for a larger version of the cover.




FILTER: - Series 3/29 - Blu-ray/DVD

New Beginnings North America Boxed Set Details

Monday, 2 April 2007 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

Outpost Gallifrey has received the full-color cover illustrations for the forthcoming North American DVD releases of The Keeper of Traken, Logopolis and Castrovalva, the Tom Baker-Peter Davison serials that will be sold both separately packaged as well as part of the New Beginningsboxed set, due on June 5 from Warner Home Video. The cover illustrations and full details on the extras for each release are below.
New Beginnings Boxed Set (WHV #E4013)
Includes all three discs

The Keeper of Traken (WHV #E4010)
Audio Commentary: Audio Commentary by actors Anthony Ainley, Sarah Sutton and Matthew Waterhouse and writer Johnny Byrne
DVD ROM Features: 1982 Doctor Who Annual, Radio Times and BBC Enterprises literature PDFs
Documentary: Being Nice to Each Other: A new 30-minute "making of" documentary that includes contributions from Sarah Sutton, Sheila Ruskin, Geoffrey Beevers, John Black, Johnny Byrne, Christopher H. Bidmead
Interviews: Swap Shop: Noel Edmond interviews Sarah Sutton (11 mins)
Music Only Track
Other: The Return of the Master: Geoffrey Beevers, Christopher H. Bidmead and John Black talk about the return of the Doctor's arch-enemy (8 mins)
Trailers and Continuity Announcements (6 mins)
Photo gallery
Production Notes

Logopolis (WHV #E4011)
Audio Commentary: Audio Commentary by actors Tom Baker and Janet Fielding and writer Christopher H. Bidmead
DVD ROM Features: 1982 Doctor Who Annual, Radio Times and BBC Enterprises literature PDFs
Documentary: A New Body at Last: A new 50-minute documentary on the transition from Tom Baker to Peter Davison, featuring many of the actors and production team involved, plus exclusive behind the scenes footage of the regeneration
Interviews: Nationwide Interviews with Tom Baker and Peter Davison (8 mins)
Pebble Mill at One: Peter Davison interview (12 mins)
Music Only Track
Other: BBC News Reports on Tom Baker's wedding, the announcement of Tom Baker's departure and Peter Davison's arrival (1 min)
Photo gallery
Production Notes
TV Spot: Trailers and Continuity Announcements (2 mins)

Castrovalva (WHV #E4012)
Audio Commentary: Audio Commentary by actors Peter Davison and Janet Fielding, writer Christopher H. Bidmead and director Fiona Cumming
DVD ROM Features: 1982 Doctor Who Annual, Radio Times and BBC Enterprises literature PDFs
Deleted Scenes
Featurette: The Crowded TARDIS: 11-minute featurette with Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Sarah Sutton, John Black and Christopher H. Bidmead
Interviews: Being Doctor Who: Peter Davison discusses how he approached this iconic role (13 mins)
Directing Castrovalva: 11-minute interview with Fiona Cumming
Swap Shop, Blue Peter: Peter Davison interviews (29 mins)




FILTER: - Canada - USA - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD - Radio Times

Press reviews

Sunday, 1 April 2007 - Reported by Anthony Weight

Press reviews have started to appear in the Sunday newspapers for last night's third series opener of Doctor Who. TheSunday People's critic Jon Wise expresses disappointment with "Smith and Jones", stating that "The BBC'S biggest, brightest, shiniest and most overly-hyped flagship show - Doctor Who Really Cares Any More? - is back... What was once new and exciting is now boring and repetitive. It feels a struggle to have to engage with a new sidekick for the Doctor... While it was still easily watchable sci-fi fun, after two series this is starting to feel lazy and lame." The Daily Mirror's verdict from Kevin O'Sullivan is mixed: O'Sullivan feels that Freema Agyeman "is set to be just as popular as her smash-hit predecessor Billie Piper," while adding "there's no denying that energetic David Tennant doesn't deliver the goods."

The online version of The Stage entertainment industry newspaper carries a review by assistant editor Scott Matthewman, which also praises Agyeman. "Freema may have proved herself capable to be the new companion, but she has big shoes to fill. And it’s to the series’ credit that it openly acknowledges the Rose-shaped hole and makes it a virtue. By doing that, it helps set up what should be an interesting series. Bring it on!" However, Matthewman feels that the plot of the episode "doesn't stand up to close scrutiny. An MRI scanner, capable of being tweaked to kill everything within 250,000 miles? On an NHS budget? (Seriously though, it could kill everything on Earth — even from the moon — but Anne Reid plans to escape by hiding behind a screen?)".




FILTER: - Series 3/29 - Press

Episode 1 Overnight Ratings

Sunday, 1 April 2007 - Reported by Marcus
Unofficial overnight figures show that the first episode of the new series was watched by 8.2 million viewers, a 39.5% share of the audience.

The programme was the most watched on Saturday, beating the second placed Any Dream Will Do by 1.5 million viewers.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets on ITV1 was watched by 4.7 million viewers.

The programme also had the highest audience share of the day.

The five minute breakdown shows the audience grew by over 2 million throughout the programme to peak at 9.1 million between 7.35 and 7.40.

Doctor Who was also top of the Children's Top Ten with 1.6 million viewers between the ages of 4 and 16. This was more than double the number viewing the second placed Harry Potter which had 0.7 million children watching.

On BBC3, Doctor Who Confidential was watched by 790,000 Viewers. It was the second most watched programme on multi channel TV, being beaten by Ford Football Special on Sky Sports 1.




FILTER: - Ratings - UK - Series 3/29

More Press Reviews

Sunday, 1 April 2007 - Reported by Marcus
Monday's newspapers have been busy reviewing the return of Doctor Whoto BBC One on Saturday.

Andrew Billen in The Times gives the programme 4/5 and describes how all his worries about Rose leaving were dispelled with the arrival of Martha, while Sam Wollaston in The Guardian declares "Doctor Who still rules". InThe Telegraph James Walton writes that Russell T Davies isn't running short of imagination yet.

The Express accuses Russell T Davies of ruining every Saturday night on which there's no Doctor Who, and gave thanks the programme was back with a "gloriously bonkers plot".

Most papers report on the show's "ratings smash".




FILTER: - Series 3/29 - Press

Welcome Back Doctor Who: Series Three Begins

Saturday, 31 March 2007 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
It's the end of March and Doctor Who is back today for its third series with the airing of "Smith and Jones" at 7.00pm on BBC1, starring David Tennant as the Doctor and introducing Freema Agyeman as Martha Jones!

The broadcast will be followed by episode one of the third series of Doctor Who Confidential at 7.45 on BBC3. There's also the first episode of the second series of Totally Doctor Who this coming Monday, 2 April at 5.00pm on BBC1. Meanwhile, BBC3 is repeating The Runaway Bride, last December's Christmas special, at 7.00pm on Sunday 1 April, followed by a repeat of the new episode at 8.00pm.

The following is a quick overview of the week's broadcasts along with some programme information from Radio Times. Welcome back, Doctor Who!
SMITH AND JONES
It's back and this time it looks like there may be two travellers - the Doctor and Martha, alias Smith and Jones. When Martha Jones finds herself on the moon, she meets a mysterious stranger called the Doctor, and her life will never be the same again. Starring David Tennant (The Doctor) and Freema Agyeman (Martha Jones), with Anne Reid (Florence Finnegan), Roy Marsden (Mr Stoker), Adjoa Andoh (Francine Jones), Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Tish Jones), Reggie Yates (Leo Jones), Trevor Laird (Clive Jones), Kimmi Richards (Annalise), Ben Righton (Morgenstern), Vineeta Rishi (Julia Swales), Paul Kasey (Judoon Captain). Written by Russell T Davies, directed by Charles Palmer.
Saturday 31 March, 7.00pm, BBC1
Repeats Sunday 1 April, 8.00pm, BBC3; Friday 6 April, 9.00pm, BBC3



DOCTOR WHO CONFIDENTIAL 3.1: MEET MARTHA JONES
Behind-the-scenes look at Doctor Who. The Doctor has a new companion, Martha Jones. By sheer courage and determination, she has wowed the Time Lord and been offered a place on board the TARDIS. Featuring exclusive footage from the new series and interviews with Freema Agyeman, who plays Martha, David Tennant and head writer Russell T Davies, the programme examines the development of Martha's character and the huge interest behind the casting of the new companion.
Saturday 31 March, 7.45pm, BBC3
Repeats Sunday 1 April, 8.45pm, BBC3; Friday 6 April, 9.45pm, BBC3



TOTALLY DOCTOR WHO 2.1
It's back with a twist as the children's companion series to Doctor Who introduces a new adventure to the mix. Barney Harwood and Kirsten O'Brien present a show celebrating the the latest adventures of the last living Time Lord. They look at anything and everything that Doctor Who has inspired children to create and do - from TARDIS-shaped garden sheds to new alien designs, from DIY special effects to new versions of the theme music. There's also the Companion Academy, in which eight young hopefuls who think they've got what it takes to travel with a Time Lord are recruited.
Monday 2 April, 5.00pm, BBC1
Repeats Friday 6 April, 6.00pm, BBC1; Saturday 7 April, 10.30am, BBC2 and 6.30pm, BBC1



THE RUNAWAY BRIDE
A repeat of last December's Doctor Who Christmas special starring David Tennant and Catherine Tate.
Sunday 1 April, 7.00pm, BBC3




FILTER: - Series 3/29 - Radio Times

Episode 1 Official Site Update

Saturday, 31 March 2007 - Reported by Marcus
Following the UK transmission of the first episode of the new series, Smith and Jones, the official BBC Doctor Who website has been updated.

There are links to a downloadable audio commentary on the episode with producer Phil Collinson and new companion Freema Agyeman, as well as several sounds from the new episode to download.

The site also includes a video podcast and an updated gallery as well as photos from the filming; fans can even download Martha's ID badge! There are also new teasers and trailers for the remainder of series three.




FILTER: - Online - Series 3/29

Time Lord in The Times

Friday, 30 March 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive
Today's edition of The Times has a huge feature on the new series.

A banner splash reading "Who's hot" runs across the front page under the masthead, and the three-page article by Caitlin Moran is in the Times2 section as the lead story, with David Tennant on the cover.

NB: Contains a major character spoiler.




FILTER: - Series 3/29 - Press

Martha's Blog

Friday, 30 March 2007 - Reported by Marcus
Martha Jones has signed up to myspace where she promises to update her blog whenever she can.

Martha's wish is to meet interesting people. Maybe over the next few weeks she will get the chance.




FILTER: - People - Series 3/29

Freema interview for BBC

Friday, 30 March 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive
The BBC News Entertainment website follows up yesterday's companion gallery, marking Martha Jones's forthcoming first adventure, with an interview with Freema Agyeman today, saying the Doctor Who star is "set to go stellar".




FILTER: - People - Series 3/29