Celebrating the Godfathers of British Electronic Music

Friday, 28 March 2014 - Reported by Marcus
The University of Chichester's Department of Media will be celebrating the BBC Radiophonic Workshop with a day of interviews, lectures, talks and panels, culminating in a rare opportunity to see the Workshop perform live.

Original team members Dick Mills, Paddy Kingsland, Peter Howell and Roger Limb, as well as archivist Mark Ayres, will be extensively interviewed about their lives and work at the event which takes place on Friday 11th April.

The day session will be followed by a visual show in surround sound, featuring new material to be played only at this event. There will also be an after-show party hosted by Brighton electronica night Synthesize Me, and a special performance by rising synth-pop duo the Vile Electrodes.

Tickets costing £65 are available from the official website.




FILTER: - Music - Special Events - Classic Series

Bournemouth police box opening date announced

Thursday, 27 March 2014 - Reported by John Bowman
The TARDIS-type police box specially made for Bournemouth is to be opened on Tuesday 8th April, Dorset Police has announced.

The steel box is to be installed at the western end of Boscombe precinct in Christchurch Road, with the official opening ceremony taking place at 11.30am in front of local dignitaries plus businessmen and women as well as the community.

Sgt Chris Amey, Boscombe Partnership and Regeneration officer, said:
The steel construction has been completed, the box has been galvanised and is currently being powder-coated at a secret location. When it returns it will undergo its internal fit, which will include security locks, CCTV, telephone and the installation of some exciting bespoke technology.
The opening will be followed by a family fun day between midday and 4pm, to be held at the precinct marquee and led by Creative Kids, with free activities and entertainment organised, including a bouncy castle, face painting, music and games.

It has not been announced who will perform the opening honours.

The design - by James Roberts of Christchurch-based architect and design practice Anders Roberts Cheer - has been based on the iconic 1929 version created for the Metropolitan Police by Gilbert Mackenzie Trench. The box has been built by AMK Industries, also of Christchurch, and been funded by local firms and organisations via donations or services, either free or at a significantly reduced cost. The sponsors are to be recognised with an engraved paving stone at the foot of the police box.

The new box will be regularly staffed during the day by police officers and police community support officers, who will offer help, advice and support to members of the public. A phone will be attached to the police box for people to use to contact the police at other times.

Dorset Police says that as well as serving an important policing purpose it is hoped that the police box will become an iconic landmark, creating tourism opportunities.

Inspector Chris Weeks, who is responsible for the Bournemouth East neighbourhood, said:
The Boscombe police box is just one of a number of projects aimed at reducing crime and anti-social behaviour and will place an obvious policing footprint exactly where it is needed.

Dorset Police is committed to listening to the concerns of the community and we hope the police box will both reassure those living, working and visiting Boscombe, as well as sending out a very clear message that the area is policed.
Sgt Amey added:
I'm extremely grateful to Clare and Cary from Creative Kids who are very kindly organising the family fun day to mark the opening of the police box. The day has specifically been organised during the Easter school holiday to encourage parents to bring their children along to celebrate the opening of this iconic landmark.

I would like to thank the following businesses and organisations supporting the police box without whom this project would not have been possible: Dorset Police; The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Dorset; Bournemouth Borough Council; AMK Industries Limited; Anders Roberts and Associates Ltd; Glossbrook Builders Ltd; DWP Housing Partnership; National Landlords Association - Dorset; Hamilton Fraser Insurance; Hoare Banks Stonemasons; Koh Thai; Nationwide Building Society; Urban Reef Restaurant; Michael Grubb Studio; Backing Boscombe Regeneration Partnership; Royal Arcade Apartments; Graemar Group; Community Development Foundation; Bournemouth Coastal Bid; Southern Security Services Ltd; Sovereign Shopping Centre; South Western Ambulance Service and the O2 Academy Bournemouth.
Two pictures showing work nearing completion were tweeted by Dorset Police two days ago with the hashtag #BoscombePoliceBox, and they can be seen below. Click here and here for the tweets.


UPDATE - 30th MARCH: A picture tweeted by Dorset Police on 28th March shows the police box on the move ahead of its grand opening.


UPDATE - 1st APRIL: And here's a picture tweeted by Dorset Police yesterday, showing the box with what looks to be a fresh coat of paint.






FILTER: - UK - Miscellaneous

Gatiss commissioned for two new episodes

Thursday, 27 March 2014 - Reported by Marcus
Actor and script writer Mark Gatiss has confirmed that he has been commissioned to write two new Doctor Who episodes, but has clarified that they will not necessarily both be in the upcoming series.

Gatiss has previously written six episodes for the series (The Unquiet Dead; The Idiot's Lantern; Victory of the Daleks; Night Terrors; The Crimson Horror; Cold War) as well as the acclaimed drama based on the origins of the series, An Adventure In Space And Time.

Gatiss confirmed the news on Twitter after telling reporters in Brazil that he would be writing two episodes for new Doctor Peter Capaldi.

He recently told Digital Spy that Capaldi would have an "exciting and disturbing" debut in the series.
Peter has a very different energy to Matt Smith and to David Tennant. He's older which changes everything ... it's amazing what a change does! Matt was sublime and I was very sorry to see him go, but it's also great to have a change, as it has always been with the Doctor.




FILTER: - Production - Series 8/34

Mary Tamm - Second Generation

Thursday, 27 March 2014 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Fantom Publishing have released the final cover for their forthcoming second part of actress Mary Tamm's autobiography, due out in April.

Mary Tamm - Second Generation (Credit: Fantom Films)Mary Tamm - Second Generation

Bradford-born Mary Tamm was already a successful actress on stage, TV and the big screen when, in 1978, she joined the cast of Doctor Who as the Time Lady, Romana, in the company of Tom Baker’s incarnation of the Doctor.

In 2009, her book First Generation recounted the story of her life before Who and her journey of self-discovery to her parents’ homeland of Estonia. Tantalisingly for Who fans, the book came to an end half way through Mary’s year on board the TARDIS. This new volume (written before her tragic death from cancer in 2012) picks up where First Generation ends, with the inside story of the filming of her final three Doctor Who adventures; and continues with tales of her subsequent TV work, her return to the stage, her ventures into the world of Who fandom, and the personal joy and fulfilment brought to her by the birth of her own ‘second generation’ – her daughter, Lauren.

Packed with incidents and anecdotes recounted with Mary’s trademark no-nonsense Northern wit, Second Generation is rounded out with tributes and reflections from some of her closest friends and colleagues, including Miriam Margolyes, Carol Royle and Steven Berkoff.

The book will be available in paperback and limited edition hardback; full details are available from the Fantom Films website, as are for the her first autobiography, First Generation.





FILTER: - Merchandise - Auto/Biography - Books

Moments in Time: The Trip of a Lifetime

Wednesday, 26 March 2014 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Moments in TimeAs one of the highest rated shows on television today, and with four (or five!) new Doctors under its belt, it's perhaps hard to imagine a time when Doctor Who was simply one of the thousands of series that had once flourished but ultimately been consigned to the great script book in the sky. But in the mid 2000s this was how the series was regarded by many, and the brave effort by the BBC to bring it back exactly nine years ago was very much a gamble - how would the 'old-school' fans receive it, and what would a 'modern' audience make of a time-traveller in a police box?

Of course, Doctor Who did have an advantage in that it was a show that was still remembered outside of its core fan base, the general public at large were aware of "Dr Who", his iconic TARDIS, and the Daleks. This helped to lend a sense of curiosity at what the new face behind the show, celebrated writer Russell T Davies, would do with the Doctor, who would be played by an established television and film actor in the form of Christopher Eccleston, not to mention the inclusion of the press-attraction of former teenage pop-star turned actress Billie Piper.

Doctor Who teaser, 1st January 2005. Image: BBCA teaser trailer on New Year's Day 2005 formally introduced the return to the general public, but it wasn't until March when the promotional gears were turned up to maximum with a host of trailers ("Do you want to come with me?") and programmes to build up interest in a way not witnessed again until the 50th Anniversary last year.

The three principal names appeared on a variety of news and magazine programmes in the lead-up to the premiere: Christopher Eccleston was a guest on the ever Who-friendly Blue Peter on the 21st March, and then came face-to-face with 'himself' on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross on the 25th; Billie Piper appeared on Parkinson on the 19th; and Russell "TV" Davies appeared on the Breakfast couch on the 11th, on BBC2 Wales's On Show on the 17th, and with Phil and Fern on This Morning on the 23rd. The press preview on the 8th March was covered widely in the media, and led to recorded interviews with the stars popping up on Breakfast and GMTV during that week. Special programmes during the period included: Matthew Sweet looking forward with a little trepidation on how the show's return would fit in culturally on The Culture Show on the 17th; Ian Rankin, Bonnie Greer and Professor John Carey discussing the series' merits on Newsnight Review on the 18th; and BBC Radio 2 presenting Project: Who? on the 22nd. Doctor Who wasn't the only programme on the way - Doctor Who Confidential was also to premiere at the weekend on BBC Three, and executive producer Mark Cossey chatted to Rufus Hound on the channel's Destination Three about what to expect from the behind-the-scenes series.

BBC Wales Today coverage of Doctor Who Preview, 8 Mar 2005. Image: BBCBillie Piper interview on BBC Breakfast, 9 Mar 2005. Image: BBCChristopher Eccleston interview on BBC Breakfast, 9 Mar 2005. Image: BBCDoctor Who coverage on Newsnight, 9th March 2005. Image: BBCRussell T Davies on BBC Breakfast, 11th March 2005. Image: BBCChristopher Eccleston on GMTV, 11th March 2005. Image: BBCMatthew Sweet on The Culture Show, 17th March 2005. Image: BBCRussell T Davies on On Show, 17th March 2005. Image: BBCNewsnight Review, 18th March 2005. Image: BBCBillie Piper on Parkinson, 19th March 2005. Image: BBCChristopher Eccleston on Blue Peter, 21st March 2005. Image: BBCProject: Who?, 22nd March 2005. Image: BBCPhilip Schofield and Fern Britton on This Morning, 23rd March 2005. Image: ITVRussell T Davies on This Morning, 23rd March 2005. Image: ITVChristopher Eccleston on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, 25th Match 2005. Image: BBCMark Cossey on Destination Three, 26th March 2005. Image: BBCThe Trip of a Lifetime Trailer, 26th March 2005. Image: BBCDoctor Who ident, 26th March 2005. Image: BBCThe Trip of a Lifetime Trailer, 26th March 2005. Image: BBCDoctor Who ident, 26th March 2005. Image: BBC

Then, suddenly, it's the 26th March. As the early evening inexorably approaches, appetites are whetted with a special preview (and countdown) in A New Dimension, an excruciating wait through Graham Norton's Strictly Dance Fever ... and then, at 7:00pm, the BBC One "Tap Dogs" ident commences, with the announcement fans have been waiting over fifteen years for:
"Tap Dogs" ident, introducing a new series of Doctor Who! (Credit: BBC)Well now, BBC One hurtles through space and time.
Come with us for the trip of a lifetime!
Aliens, you have been warned ...
Christopher Eccleston is the new ... Doctor Who!


45 minutes later and an unprecedented ten million viewers - and 43.2% of the audience - have watched Rose run to the TARDIS and off into adventures with the Doctor; the final figure rose to 10.81m (44.8%) and achieved seventh place in the TV charts, only beaten by the soap juggernauts Coronation Street and EastEnders. A week later, a further series has been commissioned (not to mention a new Doctor on the cards!), and the longevity of a modern Doctor Who is assured ...





FILTER: - Ninth Doctor - Russell T Davies - Moments in Time - Billie Piper - Series 1/27 - Chris Chibnall

Dalek gifts to be had in Doctor Who Adventures

Wednesday, 26 March 2014 - Reported by John Bowman
Three Dalek gifts are being given away with the new edition of Doctor Who Adventures, published today.

Also in issue 342:
  • Vote for your favourite Eleventh Doctor story
  • Ood facts and how to make an Ood mask
  • Sontaran Strax with his guide to the Doctor
  • Facts about a Dalek invasion on television in 1964
  • Win a huge bag of Doctor Who goodies - including sonic screwdrivers and mini-figures
  • Cyberman secrets from Nightmare in Silver
  • A comic strip featuring an unseen adventure with the Eleventh Doctor and Clara – and use the free app Blippar to bring the comic strip to life
  • Posters and puzzles
The new issue of DWA is available until Tuesday 8th April.




FILTER: - Magazines - DWA

Adric returns in Big Finish

Tuesday, 25 March 2014 - Reported by Marcus
Matthew Waterhouse makes his Big Finish debut as Adric this summer in The Fifth Doctor Box Set, reunited with Peter Davison, Janet Fielding and Sarah Sutton for two four-part audio adventures.

Waterhouse first played the role in 1980, joining the series just as the Fourth Doctor was completing his run, staying for 11 stories and 42 episodes.

Producer David Richardson said
I’m very proud of these stories. They are two top-notch scripts, and very different in style, content and tone – yet both of them fit perfectly into Season 19. I think Doctor Who fans are in for a treat…
Psychodrome by Jonathan Morris

Shortly after surviving the perils of Logopolis, Castrovalva and the machinations of the Master, the new Doctor and his new crew could be forgiven for wanting to take a breather from their tour of the galaxy. But when the TARDIS lands in a strange and unsettling environment, the urge to explore is irresistible... and trouble is only a few steps away.

The world they have found themselves in is populated by a wide variety of the strangest people imaginable - a crashed spacecraft here, a monastery there, even a regal court. And not everyone they meet has their best interests at heart.

With the TARDIS stolen, and the very environment itself out to get them, the travellers face a extremely personal threat. They'll have to work as a team if they want to get out alive... but can you really trust someone you barely know?

Guest cast: Rickett (Robert Whitelock), Magpie (Phil Mulryne), Perditia (Camila Power), Javon (Bethan Walker)
Iterations of I by John Dorney

The house on Fleming's Island had been left to rot. Ever since a strange and unexplained death soon after it was built, and plagued with troubling rumours about what lurked there, it remained empty and ignored for decades until the cult moved in. As twenty people filled its many rooms, the eerie building seemed to be getting a new lease of life.

But now it is empty again. The cult found something in its corridors... and then vanished.

Trapped on the island one dark night, the Doctor, Tegan, Nyssa and Adric look into the building's mysteries, its stories of madness and death. Their only chance is to understand what terrible thing has been disturbed here... before it consumes them utterly.

Guest cast: Jerome Khan (Joseph Radcliffe), Robert DeValley (Andrew Macklin), Aoife Dineen (Sinead Keenan), Donal Dineen (Teddy Kempner), Imogen Frazer (Allison McKenzie)
The Fifth Doctor Box Set is out in August.

The five discs include an hour-long documentary with interviews with the cast, in which Waterhouse talks about why he decided to return to Doctor Who.




FILTER: - Classic Series - Peter Davison - Big Finish

DWAS: Myth Makers - The Making of Doctor WHo

Monday, 24 March 2014 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Myth Makers - The Making of Doctor Who (Credit: DWAS)

The Doctor Who Appreciation Society is to present a special convention in June to celebrate the making of Doctor Who:
Over the last 51 years the Doctor has travelled through time and space on a never ending voyage of discovery. Similarly, the making of the show itself has undertaken its own journey. Today 'Doctor Who' is a colour, HD, CGI, surround sound spectacle - a far cry from its humble beginnings as a studio bound production made for monochrome 405 line televisions.

But how has the production of the programme changed in over half a century... and exactly how have they gone about making such a show over the years?

‘Myth Makers’ will feature guests involved in the ‘The Making of Doctor Who’ on both sides of the camera, and will take place at Riverside Studios, itself a home for Doctor Who during the black and white era of the 1960s.

Join us for our usual mix of panels, autographs and on screen presentations, and find out a little more about how our favourite show gets put together...
The event takes place on the 1st June, full details and ticket booking can be found via their website.

Competition

We have a pair of tickets to the event up for grabs, courtesy of DWAS. In order to be in with a chance to win simply answer the following question:
How many credited producers of Doctor Who have there been over the first fifty years of the show, up to and including The Day of the Doctor?
Send your answer along with your name, address and where you heard about the competition to comp-mythmakers@doctorwhonews.net with the subject line "Mythmakers in Time and Space". Only one entry per postal address will be accepted. The competition is open to readers worldwide, and the closing date is 31st March 2014. If you are a winner and have already purchased tickets for the event, DWAS will refund them (up to two tickets only!).

(with thanks to Paul Winter/DWAS)




FILTER: - Conventions

Doctor Who Nominated for BAFTA Craft Award

Monday, 24 March 2014 - Reported by Marcus
The 50th Anniversary episode of Doctor Who has been nominated for a 2014 BAFTA Craft award.

The Day Of The Doctor has been nominated for Special, Visual and Graphic Effects with the nomination going to Milk VFX, Real SFX and The Model Unit for their work on the story.

Doctor Who has been nominated in the same category for the last seven years, but has lost out on each occasion. This year the full nominees are
    Television Craft | Special, Visual & Graphic Effects in 2014
  • David Attenborough’s Natural History Museum Alive 3D
  • ZooFido
  • Doctor Who: The Day Of The Doctor
  • Milk VFX|Real SFX|The Model Unit
  • Micro Monsters with David Attenborough: Predator
  • Robert HollingworthJonathan Watts
  • Peaky Blinders
  • Blue BoltRushes
Danny Hargreaves of Real SFX said on twitter
Screaming with excitement as I've just found out that my team and I are nominated for a BAFTA for #DoctorWho. A big thank you to the Fans who have always supported us.
The drama set during the making to the first years of Doctor Who, An Adventure in Space and Time is also nominated in three categories, for Costume Design, Make Up and Hair Design and in Editing Fiction.
    Television Craft | Costume Design in 2014
  • An Adventure in Space and Time
  • Suzanne Cave
  • Da Vinci's Demons
  • Annie Symons
  • Downton Abbey
  • Caroline McCall
  • The Suspicions of Mr Whicher: The Murder in Angel Lane
  • Lucinda Wright
    Television Craft | Make Up And Hair Design in 2014
  • An Adventure in Space and Time
  • Vickie Lang
  • Burton and Taylor
  • Lucy Cain
  • Da Vinci's Demons
  • Jacqueline Fowler
  • Death Comes to Pemberley
  • Loz Schiavo
    Television Craft | Editing - Fiction in 2014
  • An Adventure in Space and Time
  • Philip Kloss
  • Broadchurch (Ep 8)
  • Mike Jones
  • The Fall
  • Steve Singleton
  • Top of the Lake (Ep 6)
  • Alexandre De Franceschi


Also earning a nomination this year is Doctor Who at the Proms 2013 which is nominated on the Entertainment Craft Team award.
    Television Craft | Entertainment Craft Team in 2014
  • Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway
  • Production Team
  • Doctor Who at the Proms 2013
  • Bernie Davis, Eryl Ellis, Huw Thomas, Keith Ware
  • Dynamo: Magician Impossible
  • Alex Hartman, Saul Gittens, Dan Evans, Amer Iqba
  • Top Gear
  • James Hart, Dan James, Andy Hodges
The winners will be announced on Sunday 27 April 2014




FILTER: - Music - WHO50 - Awards/Nominations

The BIG Finish Listener Survey

Sunday, 23 March 2014 - Reported by Marcus
Big Finish want to know your thoughts on the audio range and are offering a prize of £250 worth of Big Finish digital products to encourage people to take part in the BIG Survey.

There are 50 questions and the survey will take around 10-15 minutes. The answers are confidential. The survey will run until the end of March and one person will be selected at random, from all returns, to receive their choice of £250 worth of Big Finish digital products.

Click the link below to start the survey.

Survey




FILTER: - Competitions - Big Finish