Bonhams: Entertainment Media Auction

Tuesday, 20 November 2012 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Bonhams have now released the catalogue for their next Entertainment Media Auction, which once again contains a number of items related to Doctor Who and its spin-offs. The usual assortment of costumes and props are available to bid upon, which also includes costumes worn by John Barrowman and Elisabeth Sladen in their respective roles as Jack and Sarah. Other highlights include a TARDIS phone panel, SV7's costume from The Robots of Death, original paperwork from Planet of the Spiders, Revelation of the Daleks and Remembrance of the Daleks, and Sarah's car from The Sarah Jane Adventures.

Lot No: 147 - Doctor Who: A 'Tardis' panel (1987)Lot No: 147 - Doctor Who: A 'Tardis' panel (1987)

In blue-painted wood with white lettering Police Telephone Free For Use Of Public Advice And Assistance Obtainable Immediately Officers And Cars Respond To Urgent Calls Pull To Open (29x36.5cm).

According to information from the vendor, this was supplied by the BBC to CAL, the company that animated the 'Doctor Who' title sequence for the 24th Series in 1987. Oliver Elms, the BBC graphics designer who story-boarded the sequence, sent the Tardis panel to CAL to be used as part of the design process. From the livery and typeface, this is a 1980s-style door sign.


Estimate: £400-500, €500-630, $640-800
 
Lot 143: Doctor Who - The Planet Of The Spiders: A group of original scriptsLot 143: Doctor Who - The Planet Of The Spiders: A group of original scripts

From March-May 1974, comprising rehearsal scripts for Episodes 1-5, and camera scripts for Episodes 3-6, with some annotations, together with a statement confirming provenance.

This story was the last to feature Jon Pertwee as the Doctor, ending with his transformation into Tom Baker. These scripts were obtained from a member of the Special Effects team.


Estimate: £1,200-1,500, €1,500-1,900, $1,900-2,400
 
Lot No: 144 -SV7 costume -  Doctor Who/Tom Baker: The Robots of Death, 1977Lot No: 144 - SV7 costume - Doctor Who/Tom Baker: The Robots of Death, 1977

An S.V.7 costume, comprising: a jacket, with quilted silver lamé sleeves, and plain cotton body, inscribed in black ink inside 'Miles Fothergill' ; a pair of three quarter length quilted silver lamé trousers, inscribed 'M.F.', together with a helmet, believed to be latter of coloured fibreglass, accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.


Estimate: £2,000-3,000, €2,500-3,800, $3,200-4,800
 
Lot No: 151 - Torchwood, 2006 - 2011: Captain Jack Harkness costumeLot No: 151 - Torchwood, 2006 - 2011: Captain Jack Harkness costume

A full length RAF blue Great Coat, double breasted with domed gilt RAF-style buttons with raised wings and crown motif and Group Captain epaulettes, well worn with simulated bullet holes to each sleeve, labelled in the inside jacket pocket Angels, handwritten in blue ink John Barrowman, April '06, with attached BBC stocknumber


Estimate: £700-900, €880-1,100, $1,100-1,400
 
Lot 156: The Sarah Jane Adventures, Series 1 Pilot - Invasion of the Bane: complete Sarah Jane Smith 'Hero' costumeLot 156: The Sarah Jane Adventures, Series 1 Pilot- Invasion of the Bane: complete Sarah Jane Smith 'Hero' costume

Comprises: maroon coloured velvet 'Karen Millen' coat with beige coloured stitching; a black and brown stripe dress of cotton/ lycra mix; cerise pink 'Karen Millen' cardigan with grey coloured pearlised buttons; a pair of maroon coloured tights and a pair of flat 'Bally' black knee high 'pony skin' boots, each with BBC asset number and label attached, boots size 37 (6)


Estimate: £500-600, €630-750, $800-950
 
Lot No: 163 - The Sarah Jane Adventures, 2007 - 2011: Elisabeth Sladen as Sarah Jane Smith Sarah Jane's car - A 1991 Nissan Figaro Two-Door Targa CoupÃLot No: 163 - The Sarah Jane Adventures, 2007 - 2011: Elisabeth Sladen as Sarah Jane Smith Sarah Jane's car - A 1991 Nissan Figaro Two-Door Targa Coupé

This is the second registration to feature in the show, but remained Sarah Jane's vehicle until the series ended in 2011.


Estimate: £4,000-6,000, €5,000-7,500, $6,400-9,500
 

The auction takes place at the Knightsbridge auction room on 12th December 2012.


Full list of auction items related to Doctor Who and its spin-offs

LotDescriptionEstimate (£)
118Daleks Invasion 2150AD poster500-700
143Planet of the Spiders original scripts1200-1500
144SV7 costume from The Robots of Death2000-3000
145Revelation of the Daleks autographed scripts for episodes 1,2500-600
146Remembrance of the Daleks autographed OB Schedule250-300
147Police Box panel400-500
148Foam shark model from A Christmas Carol1000-1500
150TW: scale corpse model from Countrycide200-300
151TW: Captain Jack Harkness coat700-900
152TW: Jack's safe door500-700
153TW: Jack's bedroom hatch door300-400
154TW: Martha Jones costume from Reset300-500
155TW: Gwen Cooper costume from Meat500-700
156SJA: Sarah's costume from Invasion of the Bane500-600
157SJA: two "Slab" costumes from Warriors of Kudlak250-300
158SJA: Eve's costume from The Mad Woman in the Attic200-250
159SJA: Androvax costume from Prisoner of the Judoon and The Vault of Secrets300-400
160SJA: Clyde Langer costumes (15)350-400
161SJA: Shansheeth costume from Death of the Doctor250-300
162SJA: two Mister Dread costumes from The Vault of Secrets250-300
163SJA: Sarah's car (1991 Nissan Figaro two-door Targa Coupe)4000-6000





FILTER: - Doctor Who - Torchwood - Sarah Jane - Auctions

Overnight Ratings for The Great Detective

Sunday, 18 November 2012 - Reported by Marcus
The Great Detective, the prequel to the Doctor Who Christmas Episode, shown as part of the BBC's Children in Need programme, was watched by 6.3 million viewers, according to unofficial overnight viewing figures.

The trail for the upcoming episode, The Snowmen, which aired an hour later, was watched by 8.6 million viewers, out-rating Coronation Street on ITV1.




FILTER: - Doctor Who - Ratings - UK

Doctor Who Up For People's Choice Award Again

Friday, 16 November 2012 - Reported by John Bowman
Doctor Who is once again up for one of the American People's Choice Awards after making it on to the 2013 short list of nominees for Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Show.

It faces competition from Once Upon A Time, Supernatural (which beat Doctor Who last year in the same category), The Vampire Diaries, and The Walking Dead. The nominees for all 48 categories in the CBS awards show honouring TV, film, and music were announced yesterday at The Paley Center in Beverly Hills.

People can vote as often they like until Thursday 13th December, and the award winners will be revealed on CBS on Wednesday 9th January 2013.




FILTER: - Doctor Who - USA - Awards/Nominations - Broadcasting

Live+7 Viewing Figures

Sunday, 4 November 2012 - Reported by Marcus
Live+7 figures are now available for the series of Doctor Who episodes shown in September.

The Live+7 figures give the total numbers viewing a programme within a week of transmission, including all watching on PVR, transmission repeats and on iPlayer.

Each Doctor Who episode increased its audience by an average of 52% from the initial overnight figure, a much larger increase than achieved by the average BBC One drama, which had a 25% increase. Just under 10% of viewers watched on iPlayer, with the vast majority of iPlayer viewers time-shifting the programme.

With an average increase of 3.07 million, Doctor Who has the second-largest average increase for Drama in 2012, just being beaten by Steven Moffat's other series, Sherlock, which increased each episode by an average of 3.34 million viewers. Doctor Who has the largest percentage increase for Drama for the year so far.

TitleFirst RunLive+7increaseFirst RunRepeatsTime Shifti Player
Asylum of the Daleks6.39m9.65m51%66%4%20%10%
Dinosaurs on a Spaceship5.43m8.64m59%63%5%23%9%
A Town Called Mercy6.49m9.22m42%70%2%20%7%
The Power of Three5.59m8.68m55%64%3%24%8%
The Angels Take Manhattan5.86m8.92m52%66%3%22%9%




FILTER: - Doctor Who - Ratings - UK - Series 7/33

Roundup (current series)

Friday, 26 October 2012 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Current Filming

Filming commenced this week on episode 7 (2013 #2), written by Neil Cross and directed by Farren Blackburn, who announced on Sunday: "Once more unto the breach! Start filming Neil Cross's latest Doctor Who ep tomorrow. Gonna be a ride!!!" Filming is due to continue until the 6th November on the episode, which appears to be set in the early 1980s - though no guest stars have been announced for this episode so far. Filming kicked off in Newport on Monday, with eagle-eyed viewers possibly recognising the Gaer estate from Torchwood: Children of Earth back in 2009; another old haunt from previous stories was the nearby St. Woolos Cemetery, which was used on Tuesday. Blackburn commented: "Several coffees a day keeps the Doctor at play. Boy you need energy to direct this show!!! « BTW the Doc is looking cooler than EVER!!! « When I say The Doc is looking cooler than EVER!! I mean what he's wearing!!! Just wait and see!!! «"

Matt Smith filming in London. Photo: Anne KoerberThe bulk of episode six (2012 #1) by Steven Moffat has been completed, with a high-profile shoot in London taking place last week incorporating motorcycle antics on the South Bank and around Westminster streets, plus scenes in the shadow of the Shard near to London Bridge. Some pickups also took place on Wednesday back in Cardiff, with director Colm McCarthy wryly commenting: "Five cameras on a corner of a street in Cardiff shooting Dr Who for an hour. Nobody has noticed yet. Too late Whovians! We're out of here."

Thursday evening saw filming by Barry Pump House with director Saul Metzstein present - this seems likely to have been pickups for the Mark Gatiss story (2013 #6) that stars Dame Diana Rigg and Rachael Stirling - though the scene in question features another character, familiar to regular viewers... Main filming back at the BBC Studios during the day was briefly interrupted to celebrate Matt Smith's birthday (he'll be 30 on Sunday) - the cake surprise is available to watch via the BBC's Doctor Who website.

Neil Gaiman's script (2012 #7) has its readthrough next week, with the writer saying: "in case you are wondering: I'm really a bit nervous: the table read of my episode of Doctor Who is next week. Think good thoughts at us. I'll try and post some photographs afterwards. Oh, and for the curious, the episode will be called ███ ████ ████████ . Only with letters instead of Ascii Blocks. Unless we change the title again before it's broadcast. Which might well happen, actually. I mean, it was originally called █ █████████ ██ ██████." [Neil Gaiman's Journal, 25 Oct 2012]

Ashley Walters (who guest-stars in the fifth episode next year) spoke about his co-stars from his recent stint filming for the series: "You can't beat being in Doctor Who - it's something I've grown up with my whole life and working with Matt Smith was amazing. He's a really, really good actor and just being a part of that huge BBC franchise was an incredible thing. And Jenna Louise Coleman is really good at what she does - it seems like she's enjoying her job and I loved working with her." [Radio Times, 22 Oct 2012]

The Radio Times also reports that the fifth episode is intriguingly entitled Journey To The Centre Of The TARDIS - however, episode titles won't be finalised until closer to transmission (for example this year's The Power of Three was originally entitled Cubed).

London MCM Expo: Q&A

Matt Smith and Caroline Skinner participated in a Q&A at the London MCM Expo taking place at the Excel Centre in order to promote The Series 7 Part 1 boxed set, and answered a variety of questions about the series both shown and still to be broadcast. The session was streamed live, and will be made available to watch on YouTube next week.

Into the Future: re-occuring roles

Steven Moffat has re-iterated that Amy won't be back for the 50th Anniversary, in spite of recent media speculation: "Amy and Rory won’t be back. At the very beginning, when I was talking to Karen, I said, 'Let's make it a proper ending'. Heaven knows if they will appear in some flashback – I have no plans – but the story of Amy and Rory is over." [Mirror, The Sun, 15 Oct 2012]

If he were to return, John Simm would like to take the Master in a different direction: "I'd love to have another take on him, to be a bit quieter. Russell T Davies had a specific idea of what he wanted him to be like. So I just had to do exactly what he wanted me to, and he wanted a giggling lunatic. There's a new writer now, and I'm sure his take on him would be different so I'd be interested to have a look at it. I'd like to take the Master to a very, very dark place." [Radio Times, 23 Oct 2012]

Matt Smith confirmed at the MCM Expo in answer to a question that he'd expect that - should the Master ever return - he'd expect it to be played by John Simm! Both he and Caroline Skinner indicated that Alex Kingston would also be back as River Song (though not exactly when!).

Former Doctor Who lead writer Russell T Davies wants to be surprised by next year: "I think I’d be like the ghost at the feast, what would I do – turn up and make the tea? I have asked current boss Steven Moffat not to tell me what they are planning." [What's on TV, 24 Oct 2012]

Into the Future: alternative Doctors?

Actor Stephen Mangan wants to add his name to the list of Doctors: "I'd love to be Doctor Who – who wouldn't, it's a great part, it's very exciting, I think the Doctor Whos we've had recently have been phenomenal and I'm glad I wasn't the one who had to follow David Tennant because he was extraordinary." [Radio Times, 12 Oct 2012]

Comedian Russ Noble wouldn't ignore it either: "I think anyone would cancel anything to be [The Doctor]! The weird thing about Doctor Who is, I think there isn’t a human being on the planet who would say no to Doctor Who. But the only downside of that is you’d have to live in Cardiff!" [Den of Geek, 22 Oct 2012]

Into the Future: location, location location!

After the more 'exotic' locations visited for the first part of the series, Caroline Fisher said that they sadly weren't travelling that far from Cardiff Bay for the current batch of stories being recorded. However, when asked by the audience the the London MCM Expo about the possibility of filming in places like Louisiana in the United States, or in Australia (as championed by MP George Christensen) she didn't rule either out in the future.

Having recently stirred the hornet's nest over Australian filming himself, Matt Smith throws a few more locations into the mix: "I also think you could make quite a fun episode in Iceland or South America, or you could go to Peru. I'd like to film something in those places. The Pyramids would be fun, too, but I'd rather go to Peru." [BANG Showbiz, 18 Oct 2012]




FILTER: - Steven Moffat - People - Doctor Who - Matt Smith

Is Doctor Who a Religion?

Thursday, 4 October 2012 - Reported by Chuck Foster
... so asks Mike Rugnetta on the latest episode of Idea Channel, the weekly web programme from PBS Digital Studios.
Doctor Who is one of the longest running TV shows on the BBC, and it's got a huge fandom surrounding it. Doctor Who fans, like other passionate fan cultures, create art & fan fiction and engage in a strong remix and cosplay culture. But it's more than that. Doctor Who provides a philosophy; a way of understanding the universe. Fans embrace this in ways that are similar to most world religions: a positive influence that changes their approach to daily life. Also, the Tardis makes a pretty great shrine!
(with thanks to Heath Fradkoff)




FILTER: - Doctor Who - Miscellaneous

Doctor Who Homeware Range Launched

Wednesday, 3 October 2012 - Reported by John Bowman
A range of Doctor Who homeware products has been launched by BBC Worldwide.

Called Doctor Who Home and created by design partner Skew & Rude, it has Daleks, Cybermen, and the TARDIS emblazoned on a total of 14 products, including jugs, mugs, cups, teapots, cards, notepads, and gift wrap, as well as textiles and kitchen accessories. They will be available in shops from the end of next month.

David Wilson-Nunn, the creative director of BBC Worldwide, led the appointment to exploit a perceived gap in the market for 16-to-60-year-old fans, having previously worked with Skew & Rude on strategic work for the programme. He said the TARDIS graphic, which is featured on boxed card packaging, was "like a secondary brand logo for us – the one thing that never changes and something we can use across everything".

Abi Williams, the founder and director of Skew & Rude, said the designs had been created by "vectorising images and then developing block colour work and playing with shapes across product ranges". She added: "We're working on the next season to follow this collection. We want to push the design as far as possible and have two fantastic concepts for a product brand."







FILTER: - Merchandise - Doctor Who - BBC Worldwide

Daleks invade YouView

Tuesday, 2 October 2012 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Daleks on patrol, YouViewUK digital PVR producer YouView have launched a new advert to promote their broadband content service, which enables purchasers to watch a variety of digital channels and catch up via the BBC iPlayer, ITV Player, 4OD and Demand 5.

The advert showcases a number of shows including Sherlock, Alan Carr, Noddy, and Downton Abbey, as well as documentaries and sport. Doctor Who is also prominent, represented by a Dalek patrol being screened approaching along a street.





FILTER: - Doctor Who - Miscellaneous

BAFTA Cymru Triumph For Gunpowder Plot Game

Sunday, 30 September 2012 - Reported by John Bowman
The Doctor Who Adventure Game The Gunpowder Plot triumphed at this evening's BAFTA Cymru Awards.

It won the Digital Creativity And Games prize, with the combined effort of the BBC Wales Interactive Team, Sumo Digital, and Revolution Software beating Becoming Human and Coridor 5.

However, both Doctor Who and The Sarah Jane Adventures lost out in all the categories for which they had been nominated.

The Impossible Astronaut, which opened Series 6 of Doctor Who, was beaten to the Television Drama title by Shirley, the BBC Two production directed by Colin Teague and with music by Ben Foster that charted the rise to fame of Shirley Bassey, and the Series 6 finale The Wedding of River Song, which was up for a gong in the Sound category, was trumped by the Matthew Rhys film Patagonia. Meanwhile, The Curse of Clyde Langer, from the fifth and final series of The Sarah Jane Adventures, saw the Children's Programme title go to S4C's Dim Byd.

Also missing out were Eve Myles for Actress in Baker Boys and Helen Raynor, who was co-nominated (with Gary Owen) for the Writer prize, again for Baker Boys. Those categories went to, respectively, Sharon Morgan for the film Resistance and Eddie Butler for Lions '71.

Tonight's ceremony was hosted by Alex Jones at the Millennium Centre in Cardiff.




FILTER: - Doctor Who - Special Events - UK - Games - Awards/Nominations - Sarah Jane

Voting now open for 2013 National TV Awards

Saturday, 22 September 2012 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Voting has now opened for the eighteenth National Television Awards, and as per the norm Doctor Who and its stars have been nominated for awards.

The show itself has been nominated for the Drama category, but is up against a formidable number of shows this year, with some 35 to choose from. The list includes the other Steven Moffat success Sherlock, BBC medical stalwarts Casualty and Holby City, Merlin, and last Christmas's showpiece drama Great Expectations. ITV1's contributions include Lewis, Whitechapel, Law & Order UK and last year's winner Downton Abbey.

Matt Smith is up for Drama Performance: Male; there are 29 nominations in this category, which include Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman (Sherlock), Kevin Whately (Lewis) and Sir Kenneth Branagh (Wallander). Other Who-related nominees include Marc Warren (Without You), Colin Morgan (Merlin), Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey), Daniel Mays (Mrs Biggs), and Martin Clunes (A Mother's Son).

Karen Gillan has slightly less to contend with for the Drama Performance: Female, with "just" 25 nominees, including Gillian Anderson (Great Expectations), Claire Danes (Homeland) and Emilia Fox (Silent Witness). Other Who-related names include Lesley Sharp and Suranne Jones (Scott and Bailey), and Sunetra Sarker (Casualty).

Who-related actors in other categories include Nina Wadia (Eastenders) in Serial Drama Performance, and Alexander Armstrong, Reggie Yates and Bradley Walsh as Entertainment Presenter.


Voting for the awards is made by the public, and takes place until Thursday 11th October. Up to four nominees from each of the categories with the most votes will then go forward to be included in the shortlist voting round (date to be announced). The ceremony itself will take place live from the O2 on ITV1 on 23rd January 2013.


Matt Smith says Vote For Me in the National Television Awards!





FILTER: - Doctor Who - Awards/Nominations