The Lucy Wilson Mysteries: Curse of the Mirror Clowns

Sunday, 11 February 2018 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Candy Jar Books have announced the latest novel in their Lethbridge-Stewart spin-off series, The Lucy Wilson Mysteries:

Lucy Wilson Mysteries: Curse Of The Mirror Clowns (Credit: Candy Jar Books)

The Lucy Wilson Mysteries: Curse of the Mirror Clowns
Written by Chris Lynch
Cover by Steve Beckett

The circus is coming to town – and it may never leave.

Lucy Wilson is just about getting used to life in Ogmore-by-Sea. School, homework, friends, and the occasional alien... It’s not easy being the new girl in town but, with the help of her steadfast companion Hobo, she’s making it work.

But when a mysterious circus opens for one night only, the town suddenly finds itself overrun with invisible clowns and the gang are faced with their biggest mystery yet – the disappearance of Lucy Wilson herself.

Thankfully, they’ve got help – a mysterious stranger from another world with a special box that moves in time and space.

Curse of the Mirror Clowns is written by Cardiff-based film and comic writer Chris Lynch who commented that t writing the book gave him the opportunity to tackle a personal fear:

Did you ever think you saw something, just out of the corner of your eye? It happens to me all the time and it freaks me out quite a bit. So, when I got the chance to add my own monster to the Lucy Wilson universe, I knew it had to be a monster that you couldn't always see. I also wanted it to be a clown because, if there's something that freaks me out more than things I can't see, then it's something I can see – clowns. Of course, that's not all I added – there are plenty of other surprises in there that I hope people will really enjoy. It's been great fun adding my own strange and spooky elements to Lucy's world and I hope to be back very, very soon.

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

The 29th March sees Candy Jar officially release The Lucy Wilson Mysteries: Avatars of the Intelligence by Sue Hampton. The book was previously available exclusively to fans since September, but will now be made available to the wider public.

Head of publishing at Candy Jar, Shaun Russell, says:

We’ve had such good feedback for this book. Reviews have been encouraging and fans seemed to have embraced Lucy and Hobo. Moreover, we’ve also had a positive response from the general public. We’ve been trialling Avatars of the Intelligence with 1300 school children and the initial feedback has been very promising. In particular, we’ve had high praise for Steve Beckett’s cover design and, consequently, Curse of the Mirror Clowns has another fantastic piece of artwork by the talented Beano artist.

Lucy and her family have featured in two recent Lethbridge-Stewart short stories: Lucy Wilson by Sue Hampton (The HAVOC Files 3) and The Two Brigadiers by Jonathan Macho (The HAVOC Files 4). Added to this, they will also make an appearance in the upcoming short story collection Lethbridge-Stewart: Lineage in two further stories.

FILTER: - Books - Candy Jar Books - Lethbridge-Stewart

New Tenth Doctor Comic

Thursday, 8 February 2018 - Reported by Marcus

The Tenth Doctor: Facing Fate Volume 2: Vortex Butterflies - Cover (Credit: Titan )

This week sees the release of the latest comic in the Titan Tenth Doctor collection.

Doctor Who - The Tenth Doctor: Facing Fate Volume 2: Vortex Butterflies

Writer: Nick Abadzis
Artist: Giorgia Sposito

The brand new Year Three comic adventures of the critically acclaimed Tenth Doctor, as played by David Tennant, continue in a bold new volume!

Besieged by an evil red TARDIS and bounced around from the inside of a living nightmare to ancient China, the Doctor and his friends have had a tough time of late!

As Cindy recovers from the... splitting headache she developed on her most recent adventure, Gabby's mysterious block-transfer butterfly powers continue to develop - and Noobis, the amnesiac offshoot of a former god, continues to grow as his own entity.

But the TARDIS team put all that to one side when they visit the distant past of VENUS. What strange civilisation once lurked in its now-poisonous depths? And what connection does it have to the Doctor's own history?

And out in the darkness of the vortex, the Time Sentinel lurks. What nefarious plan does it have for the Doctor and his friends?

The Tenth Doctor: Facing Fate Volume 2: Vortex Butterflies - Page 1 (Credit: Titan )

The Tenth Doctor: Facing Fate Volume 2: Vortex Butterflies - Page 2 (Credit: Titan )

The Tenth Doctor: Facing Fate Volume 2: Vortex Butterflies - Page 3 (Credit: Titan )

The Tenth Doctor: Facing Fate Volume 2: Vortex Butterflies - Page 5 (Credit: Titan )

The Tenth Doctor: Facing Fate Volume 2: Vortex Butterflies - Page 6 (Credit: Titan )

The Tenth Doctor: Facing Fate Volume 2: Vortex Butterflies - Page 7 (Credit: Titan )

FILTER: - Comics - Tenth Doctor

Win Tickets to Doctor Who Premiere

Thursday, 25 January 2018 - Reported by Marcus

BBC Radio One is offering the chance to win two VIP tickets to the exclusive premiere of the new series of Doctor Who including a chance to meet the brand new Thirteenth Doctor herself, Jodie Whittaker.

To enter you will need to text the correct answer to a multiple choice question.

Once you’ve entered, you have to listen to the Radio 1 Breakfast Show at 8am. There you will be given you a word that you’ll need to answer your phone with if you are called live on the radio. If you don't answer with the correct word, you won't win.

Texts are charged at your standard message rate.

To enter you just need to answer this question:

What is the name of the device that the Doctor often carries?

If you think it’s ‘SONIC SCREWDRIVER’ text DOCTOR A, followed by your name & age to 81199.
If you think it’s ‘SONIC SPATULA’ text DOCTOR B, followed by your name & age to 81199.
If you think it’s ‘SONIC SPADE’ text DOCTOR C, followed by your name & age to 81199.

Only one text will be counted per phone each day. If you enter more than once the others won’t be counted but you will be charged.

You must be 16 or over to enter. Winners aged under 18 must be accompanied by a responsible adult aged 18 or over.

Don’t forget, once you’ve entered, you must to listen to the Radio 1 Breakfast Show at 8am tomorrow. Grimmy will give you a word that you’ll need to answer your phone with if you are called live on the radio.

FILTER: - Competitions - Jodie Whittaker - Thirteenth Doctor

Lethbridge-Stewart: Lineage

Sunday, 21 January 2018 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Candy Jar Books has announced a new collection of short stories. Lethbridge-Stewart: Lineage is a series of tales about the Lethbridge-Stewart family from the early 1600s right up to the present day (including three brand new adventures featuring the Brigadier himself).

Lethbridge-Stewart: Lineage (Credit: Candy Jar Books)

Lineage
Stories by Andrew Allen, Harry Draper, Richard Dinnick, Gareth Madgwick, Wink Taylor, Chris Lynch, David A McIntee and Andy Frankham-Allen
Edited by Andy Frankham-Allen

The Lethbridge-Stewart name carries with it stories of integrity, honour and courage. But was it always so?

From its earliest origins with the Clan Stewart in Scotland, and the Lethbridges in Devon, England, the name has a storied past. Historical figures, history makers, miitary heroes…

Lethbridge-Stewart: Lineage presents six brand-new tales from some of the most popular authors previously published in The HAVOC Files collection, as well as one from the creative mind of writer and film maker Chris Lynch.

Based on characters created and inspired by Mervyn Haisman & Henry Lincoln.

The stories take place during the 1600s, 1800s, 1940s, 1970s, and 2010, and explore the ancestors and descendents of Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart. Head of Publishing, Shaun Russell says:

We’ve been pondering doing a collection like this for some time, but it never seemed to be the right time. But with the impending fiftieth anniversary of the first appearance of the Brig in Doctor Who, combined with the recent appearance of the Brigadier’s grandfather in Twice Upon a Time, and the positive response that garnered, it seemed that the time was, finally, now.

Editor Andy Frankham-Allen says:

I love exploring the Brigadier’s lineage, be it his immediate family in the shape of his mother and father, or his descendents, in the shape of his son and grandchildren. But I’ve always wanted to go deeper, to look at some other Lethbridge-Stewarts, or indeed Stewarts and Lethbridges, to find out what kind of impact they had on the world. Sometimes that impact can be huge, and sometimes it can be the smallest thing that has the biggest repercussions. With this collection, we get to explore some of the lesser known ancestors, and introduce some never even mentioned before. And, of course, we get to visit the rising star that is Lucy Wilson, the Brigader’s adventuring grandaughter!

Authors include Richard Dinnick, with Shaun observing:

We are delighted popular Doctor Who author Richard Dinnick is contributing a story to the Lethbridge-Stewart Lineage collection, tentatively called The Soothsayer and set in 1603. Richard's first piece of professional fiction was produced by Big Finish in 2005, a short story called Neptune, the first of a two-part story, the second of which was written by our range editor, Andy Frankham-Allen. This was followed by a co-authored audio script, also with Andy, for the Space 1889 series, The Lunar Inheritance. He has since gone on to write countless Doctor Who stories for Big Finish, BBC Books and Titan comics. And plenty of non-Doctor Who stuff too!

Lethbridge-Stewart: Lineage will be available as a hardback for a strictly limited time, and is available for pre-order now. This volume does not form part of any bundle offer.

There are also two free Lethbridge-Stewart stories currently available for download via the Candy Jar website.

What’s Past is Prologue by David A McIntee, and The Note by Andy Frankham-Allen were released over the festive period to subscribers of the Lethbridge-Stewart series, and are now available to the general public.

The two stories are connected by a Lethbridge-Stewart family secret which has its origins in 1902 and is not revealed until 1945. Both stories focus on the relationship between the original Alistair Lethbridge-Stewart, the British Intelligence operative from the early twentieth century, after whom the Brigadier was named, and his brother, Archie. Not only do the stories feature the Brigadier’s namesake, but also takes a deeper look into the life of his father, Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart.

Range Editor and author, Andy Frankham-Allen explains:

This story plays with family secrets, adding further depth to the Lethbridge-Stewart legacy. So, now we have a story set in 1917 that sets up the secret from 1902, and a story set in 1945 which reveals what really did, or did not, happen.

Both stories can be found via the Candy Jar website.

Lethbridge-Stewart: What's Past Is Prologue (Credit: Candy Jar Books)

Lethbridge-Stewart: The Note (Credit: Candy Jar Books)

FILTER: - Books - Candy Jar Books - Lethbridge-Stewart

Doctor Who: Eleventh Doctor Year Three #13

Wednesday, 10 January 2018 - Reported by Marcus

On sale today, the finale to Titan's Eleventh Doctor's Third Year adventures.

Doctor Who: Eleventh Doctor Year Three #13

Writer: Alex Paknadel & Rob Williams
Artist: JB Bastos & Luiz Campello
Cover A: Blair Shedd Cover B: Photo

The third year of the Eleventh Doctor comes to a fiery conclusion!

Can the Sapling escape its destiny?

Doctor Who: Eleventh Doctor Year Three #13 - Cover A (Credit: Titan )

Doctor Who: Eleventh Doctor Year Three #13 - Cover B (Credit: Titan )

Doctor Who: Eleventh Doctor Year Three #13 - Page 1 (Credit: Titan )

Doctor Who: Eleventh Doctor Year Three #13 - Page 2 (Credit: Titan )

Doctor Who: Eleventh Doctor Year Three #13 - Page 3 (Credit: Titan )

Doctor Who: Eleventh Doctor Year Three #13 - Page 4 (Credit: Titan )

FILTER: - Comics - Eleventh Doctor

Lethbridge-Stewart: A Very Private Haunting

Monday, 8 January 2018 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Candy Jar Books opens its fifth series of ongoing Lethbridge-Stewart novels with the publication of A Very Private Haunting at the end of this month:

Lethbridge-Stewart: A Very Private Haunting (Credit: Candy Jar Books)

A Very Private Haunting
Sharon Bidwell
Cover artwork by Richard Young

Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart is not a man who likes to leave things unfinished. He is, therefore, at a loss when forced into taking leave after his recent tussle with a ‘shadow creature’, a case that has yet to be fully resolved. Anne Travers is tired of the loss burning in her heart. So when Lethbridge-Stewart is called to Glencross to help the son of an old friend, she insists on going with him.

In Glencross, young Tomas Campbell has gone missing, and his friends band together to uncover the dark secret at the heart of the village. Meanwhile, Arthur Penrose had returned to his ancestral home to find a haunted residence, and a doll with a message.

What connects the doll to the strange sounds that scurry around Penrose Manor, why do the adults of Glencross seem so intent on keeping their children from leaving the village, and what has all this got to do with the ‘shadow creature’? It is up the Lethbridge-Stewart and Anne to find out.

This special edition includes an extended version of Sharon Bidwell’s short story, The Wishing Bazaar.

Author Sharon Bidwell previously wrote the Lethbridge-Stewart short story, The Wishing Bazaar, and has worked with range editor, Andy Frankham-Allen, on several projects since 2011, even co-writing a book. For this nverl, Sharon said:

Andy didn’t leave me with a choice. He’s always dragging me into things. I want to say he ‘invited’ me, but he was very adamantant that I’d write for the series. Which is a compliment, and Andy has a way about him, so one day I just emailed a first draft of the manuscript to him without any warning.

Andy Frankham-Allen said:

It did come out of the blue, but it was a nice surprise. So, I had the book in my files for almost a year before I found a suitable place for it, and then it all came down to finding a way to make it fit the ongoing narrative, tweaking it here and there, and suggestion a few changes to Sharon. In fairness, beyond series continuity, there wasn’t much to do. Sharon has always had a good grasp of story, and knows how to mix good character work with layers of meaning and emotional resonance.

Sharon adds:

I'm not a writer who consciously considers theme in a first draft. It's something that presents itself to me sometimes as much as three-quarters into a preliminary version. It's hard to choose a defining one in this book. The book questions the keeping of secrets, outmoded beliefs, what can happen if people never question their convictions. I also wanted to explore human behaviour in a macabre setting. The dictionary defines macabre as: disturbing and horrifying because of involvement with or depiction of death and injury. It seems to fit. One thing I was certain I wanted to incorporate was Edison's talking dolls. The problem I stumbled into was the 'why'. I know I wanted to use the doll but a writer cannot simply use a great idea if it doesn't fit the story. I not only constructed an answer, I formulated one that provided me with a well-rounded end to the book.

Shaun Russell, head of publishing, said:

This book has a touch of The Daemons about it, in regards the atmosphere it creates. Perfect reading for a night in front of the fire, with a storm raging outside. It gave me the creeps in places, and I don’t even have a fire to read in front of!

The cover is by regular artist, Richard Young:

I've always wanted to do a cover for a horror type novel. I love the old Hammer horror films so I wanted to do something in that vein… with my own twist.

All pre-orders of A Very Private Haunting will receive a free digital short story called The Comrades by Brian Gallagher, a tale set during the Cold War which sees Brigadier Douglas and Captain Bishop working alongside the SAS. It can be pre-ordered individually, as part of a discounted UK bundle or an international bundle, or as part of a yearly subscription offer. Full details are available from the Candy Jar website.

A Very Private Haunting will be followed by The Man from Yesterday and The New Unusual.

FILTER: - Books - Candy Jar Books - Lethbridge-Stewart - Merchandise

Doctor Who Magazine Special Edition: The 2018 Yearbook

Friday, 5 January 2018 - Reported by Marcus

The latest Special Edition of Doctor Who Magazine is a unique celebration of the Twelfth Doctor’s final adventures, from The Return of Doctor Mysterio through to Twice Upon a Time. Packed full of all-new features and previously unseen images, this is the essential guide to the year in Doctor Who.

At the end of 2017 a remarkable chapter in the history of Doctor Who draw to a close. Two incarnations of the Time Lord overcame an existential threat... before the arrival of the Thirteenth Doctor heralded a bold new era for the programme.

Highlights include exclusive new interviews with:

Joe Browning, Jimmy Mann, Gary Pollard and Kate Walshe (Millennium FX)
Ysanne Churchman (the voice of Alpha Centauri in Empress of Mars)
Matthew Clark (graphic designer, 2017 series)
Rachel Denning (Erica in The Pyramid at the End of the World)
Mark Gatiss (Captain Lethbridge-Stewart in Twice Upon a Time)
Stephanie Hyam (Heather in The Pilot and The Doctor Falls)
Adele Lynch (Iraxxa in Empress of Mars)
Rove McManus (host of Australian show Whovians)
Rachel Talalay (director of three episodes in the 2017 series)
Alexandra Tynan (designer of the original Cybermen)

Editor Marcus Hearn says:

The latest Yearbook is out a little later than usual because we wanted to complete our coverage of the Twelfth Doctor’s stories by including Twice Upon a Time. This issue covers more episodes than any previous Yearbooks, but there are many other fantastic articles in there too. We hope this is a great souvenir of an incredible era.

The Doctor Who Magazine Yearbook 2018 is on sale now price £5.99.

FILTER: - DWM - Twelfth Doctor

The Unofficial Doctor Who 1972 Annual

Saturday, 30 December 2017 - Reported by Marcus

The 1972 Doctor Who Fannual (Credit: Mark Worgan)

A new fan produced publication, wrtten in tribute to the Doctor Who Annuals of the 1970's, is looking for contributers.

'Somewhere in the multiverse, its always 1972'

The unofficial Doctor Who 1972 annual is a fan-produced homage to those old Dr Who annuals originally produced by 'World Distributors'.

Before there was VHS, before there were DVDs. Fans would eagerly await the yearly arrival of the Doctor's new adventures, in many ways very different to those that played out on screen. However, for the Xmas of 1971, no such adventures arrived.

The unofficial 1972 annual is entirely fan-produced, and will almost definitely be loss-profit making. But don't worry, the only investment we want is your time and talent. Although the annual is well underway, including a contribution from Ian Levene, we still need more contributions.

We need stories that feature the 3rd Doctor, his new assistant Miss Josephine Grant, and U.N.I.T. We are looking for stories that don't necessarily have to be too serious. In fact the more fun the better. We want the 1972 annual to be humorous (but family friendly) and maybe just a little bit daft, but always fun.

If you want to be a part of something special, please email: doctorwhoannual@aol.co.uk

Also check out the facebook page

The unofficial 1972 annual will be released in 2018

FILTER: - Fan Productions - Third Doctor

Twice Upon A time - Overnight Viewing Figures

Tuesday, 26 December 2017 - Reported by Marcus

Doctor Who - Twice Upon A Time had an audience of 5.66 million viewers, according to unofficial overnight viewing figures, a share of 29.1% of the total television audience.

The figure is almost identical to that received by last year's Doctor Who Christmas Special, which had 5.68 million watching.

Top for the day was Mrs Brown's Boys Christmas Special with 6.80 million viewers. The Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special had 6.46 million watching compared to 7.2 million last year.

BBC One outrated ITV 1 from midday to midnight with Coronation Street the only programme on the channel to break 5 million viewers with 5.07 million watching. Victoria the drama starring Jenna Coleman had 2.74 million watching.

HM The Queen's Christmas Message had 5.26 million watching on BBC One and 1.87 million on ITV 1.

Official ratings, including those who recorded te show and watched it later, will be published in two weeks time.

FILTER: - Ratings - Series Specials - Twelfth Doctor

Access All Areas Doctor Who Special - Tonight - Radio 2

Thursday, 21 December 2017 - Reported by Marcus

A reminder that Jo Whiley’s Access All Areas Doctor Who Special, airs at 8pm tonight on BBC Radio 2.

The programme features an interview with Peter Capaldi as he films his last appearance as the Twelfth Doctor.

On working with David Bradley

David’s absolutely fantastic; I’ve always admired David as an actor. He’s extraordinarily powerful and skilled. He’s been around for so long and really knows what he’s doing but that’s great. The way that he’s sort of created this version of the first Doctor is incredible because he really looks like him but he also acts like him, he acts like William Hartnell.

On working with Steven Moffat

He’s one of the wittiest, funniest people that I’ve ever met. I think Steven could have easily been a stand-up comedian in another life. One of the most entertaining things I will always remember about Doctor Who is at the start of each season, he asks me around to his house and he will tell me what’s going to happen to the Doctor and he will go through all twelve episodes, just himself in his kitchen describing it all and it’s absolutely hilarious. It’s doubly hilarious as you go on because obviously some of the episodes don’t turn out quite as well as he’s described them, or don’t have quite as much money and are a little less focused. But he’s just a brilliant, brilliant writer. Just today we’re doing a scene which is close to the end… we’re all very concerned about how the twelfth Doctor leaves us so we’re hypersensitive about trying to make it the best we possibly can. I had expressed a little discomfort about one of the scenes leading towards the end and he re-wrote it, he re-wrote completely and quite brilliantly overnight which is fantastic; the down side is I have to learn it.

On why he decided to leave leaving Doctor Who

I realised that there’s only so much you can do and keep it fresh. I’ve never really been in a long running television series…. I’ve never been in something where you work every day for nine months of the year filming and I’ve loved it but I sort of thought if I do another year I might just start getting used to everything and that’s not the way I’ve been. I’ve always been somebody who wanted to have artistic challenges, enjoy myself and do new things.

When asked by Jo if he feels blessed for being a part of Doctor Who

I can’t even begin to tell you. Blessed isn’t a big enough word. It’s extraordinary, I keep saying privileged isn’t even a big enough word. It’s just a magical thing, to have had this time it’s just been amazing and extraordinary because there are only twelve of us so far who have been in this position. But it is a place where you see such kindness and you see such love and you see how good people are and also you can enter people’s lives in a very very positive way and you see great things. That will never happen again, there isn’t another part where that can happen and so that has been an extraordinarily privileged place to be.

His advice to the next Doctor

Strap yourself in because it’s a rollercoaster but enjoy every second because it’s brilliant.

Jo Whiley also catches up with the stars of the series on the set including Pearl Mackie, David Bradley, Exec Producer Steven Moffat. Plus, she hears from outgoing companion, Matt Lucas, and digs into the BBC Doctor Who archive.

There will be stories from behind the scenes including how Matt approaches being recognised by fans, the radical ways in which Pearl’s life has changed, Pele’s reaction to signing a Brazil shirt for the Doctor and how Doctor Who has always been with Peter Capaldi – from dressing up as a Dalek as a child, to karaoke singalongs to The Killers all in the name of getting into character.

Plus, Radio 2 listeners will find out which member of the team has a penchant for Chas and Dave!

The programme can be heard at 2000 GMT on BBC Radio 2, which is available worldwide on the BBC iPlayer. After transmission, it will be available to listen again for one month

FILTER: - Doctor Who - Documentary - Twelfth Doctor

Previous 10 Stories