North America Series DVD Cover

Monday, 19 December 2005 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

Our friends at TV Shows on DVD have unveiled the cover illustration for the forthcoming February 14 release of the Complete First Series Boxed Set in North America (US and Canada). The box cover uses roughly the same illustration as the large box in the UK release this past November, but at a minimal amount of shelf depth. Click on the thumbnail for a larger version. (With thanks to David Lambert at TVShowsOnDVD for letting us know!)




FILTER: - USA - Series 1/27 - Blu-ray/DVD

Aus/NZ (and UK) DVD Update

Friday, 16 December 2005 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

According to Data Extract, the news magazine of the Doctor Who Club of Australia, Genesis of the Daleks will be released there on DVD by Roadshow Home Video in April 2006, with Inferno following in June. This meshes with Outpost Gallifrey's previous reports that both DVDs will be part of BBC Video's 2006 DVD release schedule in the UK, although neither DVD have been officially announced yet; we believe "Genesis" will be out in March 2006 in the UK, but as always, it isn't official until it's formally announced.




FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD - Australia

Boxed Set Brief Update

Tuesday, 13 December 2005 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

The UK version of the New Series Boxed Set, as previously reported, contains several errors, including the inability to play the entirety of "World War Three" from the episodic option. UK viewers are asked to call the BBC help line at 0870 241 0624 prior to returning their discs; they will send a replacement disc as available. Meanwhile, Outpost Gallifrey has been informed that the Australian version of the boxed set has been recalled by the manufacturers because they hold the same problems; there is currently no word about when they will be re-released, although current information indicates it is likely in early January.




FILTER: - UK - Series 1/27 - Blu-ray/DVD

Series Two Update

Wednesday, 7 December 2005 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

The new issue of Doctor Who Magazine, #364 (now on newsstands) has a number of new details on Series Two:
Attack of the Graske: The interactive "red button" episode of Doctor Who, to be available immediately after the transmission of "The Christmas Invasion," is proudced by Sophie Fante, who tells DWM that the viewer will be able to fly the TARDIS, 'fight the Graske on the planet Griffoth' and 'hunt the Graske in Victorian London' - the latter is 'an authentic Dickensian Christmas scene, complete with snow'. Besides David Tennant, the cast includes Jimmy Vee, who played the Moxx of Balhoon and the 'space pig' in last year's "The End of the World," as the Graske; Lisa Palfrey as Mum; Nicholas Beveney as Dad; Mollie Kabia as Daughter; James Harris as Son; Robin Meredith as Granddad; Gwenyth Petty as Grandma; Ben Oliver as Urchin; Roger Nott as Older Man; and Catherine Olding as Young Woman. Billie Piper is apparently not in the story. As previously reported, the 'episode' is written by Gareth Roberts and directed by Ashley Way.
Casting: Added to the cast of episodes 5 and 6 (still untitled) are Colin Spaull (who played Lilt in the classic series story "Revelation of the Daleks") as Mr Crane and Helen Griffin as Mrs Moore. DWM confirms the previously reported casting of Shaun Dingwall (Pete Tyler), Roger Lloyd-Pack (John Lumic), Andrew Hayden-Smith (Jake Simmonds) and Don Warrington (the President). Of note is that Tracy-Ann Oberman (playing Yvonne Hartman) is now listed as being part of "block three" instead of these two episodes, as are Adam Shaw (Morris) and Freema Agyeman (Adeola); this fits in with the possibility that the final two episodes are being filmed concurrent with the Cybermen two-parter by director Graeme Harper.
Production: Block Three (directed by Graeme Harper) began filming at the start of November, and will continue until Christmas, before being completed in the New Year. Filming was apparently rained out on 8 November. Block Four began pre-production at the start of December, while Episode 1 was ‘locked' and Episodes 2 to 4 have reached their first edits. The director of photography for episodes 2 and 4 and "Attack of the Graske" is Rory Taylor. The production notes column by Russell T Davies notes that twelve out of thirteen episodes for Series Two have now been written, with only Davies' Episode Ten still to go (this is possibly prior to the delay of Stephen Fry's episode to the third season), then it's 'straight on to Series Three'. Davies also notes that the DVD set of The Complete First Series had no deleted scenes because ‘We lost them. Genuinely, lost, forgotten, dumped.' And that they've now been found again, so might yet appear.
Series Three: Writer Steven Moffat, who penned Series One's "The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances" and this year's "The Girl in the Fireplace," confirms in DWM that he will be writing an episode for the third series as well.
For a lot more additional information, articles, reviews and interviews, pick up Doctor Who Magazine 364, now in wide release, at your favorite newsstand.




FILTER: - Russell T Davies - Production - DWM - Series 2/28

New Press Release, plus New Writer

Tuesday, 6 December 2005 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

The BBC Press Office has issued a new press release on the BBC's Winter/Spring 2006 highlights, which includes a section about the new Doctor Who series. The press release is listed below.
The most notable item within the press release is that Stephen Fry is no longer listed as a writer; this seems to confirm prior rumors that his episode, said to be heavily reliant on special effects, would be moved to series three. Instead, a new name is listed, Matthew Graham, among whose credits are writing for "Hustle," "Spooks," "EastEnders," "This Life," "P.O.W.," "Byker Grove" and co-creating and writing the upcoming series "Life on Mars". It is very likely, therefore, that Graham will be writing episode 11 in Fry's stead.
The wait is over! David Tennant, the tenth Time Lord to grace the TARDIS, and his feisty young companion, Rose Tyler (Billie Piper), return in the eagerly anticipated new series of Doctor Who.

Together, the Doctor and Rose travel through time and space, battling a host of new and returning aliens and monsters, including the dreaded Cybermen, an evil race of Cat Women, the sinister Krillitanes and maybe even a Dalek!

The new series, which promises to be even scarier than the last, sees the welcome return of two of the Doctor's favourite and most iconic companions, Sarah Jane Smith (Elisabeth Sladen) and his faithful robot dog, K9.

Rose's mum, Jackie (Camille Coduri), and her hapless boyfriend, Mickey (Noel Clarke), also return.

Viewers join the Doctor and Rose as they embark upon an adventure that takes them further into the future than ever before, to a glittering paradise where the grass smells of apples – but where old and new terrors lurk.

Then it's off to the Highlands for a Royal appointment with Queen Victoria (Pauline Collins).

Doctor Who is the creative vision of lead writer Russell T Davies. The series' other writers include Steven Moffat, Mark Gatiss, Toby Whithouse, Tom Macrae, Matt Jones and Matthew Graham.

Doctor Who is the winner of three National Television Awards.




FILTER: - Russell T Davies - Series 2/28 - Press

Robert Sloman

Tuesday, 6 December 2005 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

Robert Sloman, who wrote four classic Doctor Who episodes during the Jon Pertwee era of the series -- "The Green Death," "The Time Monster," Pertwee's final story "Planet of the Spiders" and, under the pseudonym Guy Leopold (together with Barry Letts), "The Daemons" -- has died, according to an obituary in today's Guardian written by Letts. Born in Oldham, he became an actor and playwright as well as an employee of the Sunday Times before writing for television. As Letts states in his obit, "As producer, I asked Bob, a friend, to join me in developing an idea I'd had. His exuberant imagination made our story sessions a delight. The resulting serial, The Daemons (under the nom de plume of Guy Leopold), was for several years voted the best ever Dr Who story. ... Bob left the Sunday Times in 1974 and took over as wholesale distributor of all the Sunday papers, based in Burgess Hill, Sussex. Sailing now became a major part of his life, and when he retired, a second home in Spain meant a share in a boat in summer. His wife and children survive him."




FILTER: - Obituary - Classic Series

South Bank Show Awards

Monday, 5 December 2005 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

Doctor Who has been nominated in the television drama category at the annual South Bank Show Awards (sponsored by ITV's long-running Sunday night arts series), which cover all areas of the arts such as music, film, television, etc, in the UK. BBC News reports that the nominees for TV drama include Doctor Who, Twenty Thousand Streets Under the Sky (BBC Four / Two) and Elizabeth I (Channel 4). Billie Piper has also been nominated in the TV Drama category for "The Times Breakthrough Award". The awards ceremony takes place at London's Savoy Hotel on 27 January. (Thanks to Paul Hayes)




FILTER: - Awards/Nominations - Series 1/27

Series Two Episode Titles - Updated

Saturday, 3 December 2005 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

The new issue of Radio Times has revealed two new titles for forthcoming episodes of the second series of Doctor Who. Mark Gatiss' episode is entitledThe Idiot's Lantern, according to the magazine, while the 13th and final episode of the season (written by Russell T Davies) bears the ominous title of Doomsday. In addition, the magazine also mentions that the name of the "red button" interactive episode written by Gareth Roberts that will be available starting on Christmas day is Attack of the Graske.




FILTER: - Russell T Davies - Production - Series 2/28 - Radio Times

Series Two Teaser Online, On BBC TV

Friday, 2 December 2005 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

The BBC website unveiled a new teaser trailer for "The Christmas Invasion" on Friday morning, 2 December. Previously noted as a "new exclusive" on the front page of the main BBC website, this turned out to be a very short (only a few seconds) teaser with a spinning Christmas tree and holiday music replaced by the familiar Doctor Who music and the words "Something's coming..." This marked the beginning of the holiday publicity season as the teaser was later shown on BBC Television. The official Doctor Who websitehas links to watch the teaser online (Windows Media Player or RealPlayer are needed to view it).




FILTER: - Online - Series 2/28

2005 Drama Award Vote

Thursday, 1 December 2005 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

The BBC has just launched the 2005 Drama Awards where viewers can vote online for their favourite dramas of the year, according to the official Doctor Who website. "With categories including Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Villain and Most Desirable Star we're hopeful that Doctor Who might be up for a couple of awards. Voting closes on Friday 6th January 2006, with results revealed on Monday 16th January 2006. There's also an end-of-year quiz, with a selection of goodies to be won, so why not head over now and let them know what you think." You can vote at the Best of 2005 Site.




FILTER: - Awards/Nominations - Series 1/27