Torchwood 2.2 Final Ratings

Wednesday, 6 February 2008 - Reported by Marcus

BARB has released final ratings for the week ending 27th January, giving Episode Two of Torchwood, Sleeper an official rating of 3.78 millionviewers.

The programme was once more the highest rated on BBC2 for the week. Episode One still stands as the second highest rated programme on the channel for the year, with episode two currently at 5th place.

BBC2 Top Programmes (we 27 Jan 2008)

1 TORCHWOOD (WED 2103) - 3.78
2 AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 GARDENS (SUN 2101) - 3.37
3 UNIVERSITY CHALLENGE (MON 2000) - 3.33
4 MASTERCHEF (MON 2030) - 3.25
5 MASTERCHEF (THU 2001) - 3.23
6 THE WEAKEST LINK (TUE 1714) - 2.75
7 MASTERCHEF (WED 2033) - 2.72
8 NEVER MIND THE BUZZCOCKS (THU 2102) - 2.71
9 THE WEAKEST LINK (THU 1714) - 2.65
10 THE WEAKEST LINK (WED 1714) - 2.62
11 MASTERCHEF (TUE 2031) - 2.61
12 THE WEAKEST LINK (FRI 1715) - 2.57
13 THE WEAKEST LINK (MON 1714) - 2.54
14 AN ISLAND PARISH (TUE 2001) - 2.52
15 THE BEST OF TOP GEAR (SUN 2000) - 2.41
16 HAVE I GOT OLD NEWS FOR YOU (SAT 2103) - 2.37
17 THE NATURAL WORLD (FRI 2001) - 2.33
18 TIMEWATCH: THE PHAROAH'S LOST CITY (SAT 2012) - 2.26
19 EGGHEADS (FRI 1800) - 2.26
20 EGGHEADS (MON 1759) - 2.18

source BARB

FILTER: - Torchwood - Ratings - UK

Brain Of Morbius DVD On Its Way (Updated)

Wednesday, 6 February 2008 - Reported by DWNP Archive

Posted By John Bowman

The Fourth Doctor story The Brain of Morbius is to be released on DVD in the UK.The British Board of Film Classification today passed three episodes of the 1976 four-part story, giving them a PG rating.

They were passed without any cuts ordered. Consumer advice given for episodes one and two was that each had "scary scenes".

The fourth episode will, undoubtedly, be passed shortly.

A release date for the DVD has yet to be announced.

UPDATE (February 7): Episode four of The Brain of Morbius was today passed uncut with a PG rating by the BBFC, with the consumer advice that it contained "mild fantasy violence and horror".

(With thanks to Tony Clark)

FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

News Round-Up (Updated)

Wednesday, 6 February 2008 - Reported by DWNP Archive

Posted By John Bowman

People

David Tennant reveals some of his forthcoming work schedule in the February 9-15 edition of Radio Times. In a feature about the listings magazine's annual party for its cover stars, he says he will have all of May off and start rehearsing Hamlet for the RSC in June. (NB: Tennant is also appearing inLove's Labour's Lost in October and November, although he doesn't make reference to that in the feature.)

He appears in Hamlet from July until January 9, 2009 and says he will be back in Cardiff on January 10 to commence next year's Doctor Who specials, adding: "After that, I really don't know. Nothing has been decided . . . honestly!"

Tennant, Freema Agyeman and John Simm are all pictured at the bash.

Sophie Aldred was interviewed by BBC Norfolk while making a guest appearance in the area.

In the lengthy feature, she tells how she tried - unsuccessfully - to persuade Christopher Eccleston to attend conventions. The interview is also in three parts in an audio format. In addition, it includes video interviews with Terry Molloy and Elisabeth Sladen, as they are referred to in the piece, although these may not be playable by overseas visitors to the BBC site.

Meanwhile, BBC South East Today ran an interview with Tommy Knight, who plays Luke in The Sarah Jane Adventures.

Broadcasting

Radio Times also reveals that the February 15 edition of EastEnders will feature the storyline in which the characters Stacey and Bradley visit a Doctor Who exhibition in London. The location filming for this was reported by this site in December. (Information elsewhere suggests that the February 14 edition may also include this storyline.)

The teaser for the following week's Radio Times (February 16-22) mentions the character Martha Jones joining theTorchwood team, suggesting there will be a feature about it in that edition. Her debut Torchwood episode will be shown on BBC3 on February 13 at 9.50pm. It will, presumably, be shown on BBC2 on February 20 as part of the series' run on that channel.

The February 13 edition of Late Junction on BBC Radio 3, to be broadcast from 11.15pm to 1am, will include music from the BBC Radiophonic Workshop and is believed to be a feature about 50 years of the workshop, including its realisation of the Doctor Who theme. UPDATE (February 7): Although the February 13 edition will indeed include music from the BBC Radiophonic Workshop archive, it has been announced that it will be the February 12 editionthat will mark 50 years of the workshop with, among other items, a look at the Doctor Who theme. The show will be broadcast in its usual slot, from 11.15pm to 1am.

(With thanks to Tony Clark)

FILTER: - People - David Tennant - Radio Times

SJA on SABC2 South Africa

Tuesday, 5 February 2008 - Reported by Benjamin Elliott

SABC2 in South Africa has picked up The Sarah Jane Adventures. The 10 half-hour episodes from Series 1 air weekly beginning this Saturday at 3:30PM Central African Time (CAT).

FILTER: - Broadcasting

Kevin Stoney

Monday, 4 February 2008 - Reported by DWNP Archive

Posted By John Bowman

The highly acclaimed actor Kevin Stoney has died at the age of 86.

He made striking contributions to Doctor Who, playing the villains Mavic Chen in the epic story The Daleks' Master Plan (1965-66) and Tobias Vaughn inThe Invasion pictured (1968).

So impressive was Stoney's portrayal of Chen that the Daily Express named the character Villain of the Year.

His final contribution to the series came in 1975, when he played Tyrum inRevenge of the Cybermen.

Stoney also appeared in many other well-known series over the years, including I, Claudius, The Tomorrow People, Bergerac, All Creatures Great and Small and Blake's 7, which was created by Terry Nation.

There is a short obituary on Rogues and Vagabonds.

(With thanks to Tony Clark)

FILTER: - People - Obituary

Sci Fi confirms April debut for Who and SJA

Monday, 4 February 2008 - Reported by Josiah Rowe

The Sci Fi Channel has confirmed earlier reports that both Doctor Who Series Four and The Sarah Jane Adventures will begin airing on the channel in April. The channel's news service, Sci Fi Wire, has the confirmation, and Sci Fi's full press release is below.

(Thanks to "GracieLizzy" of the Doctor Who Forum.)

DOCTOR WHO SEASON FOUR AND THE SARAH JANE ADVENTURES COMING TO SCI FI CHANNEL IN APRIL

NEW YORK - February 4, 2008 - SCI FI Channel has acquired the fourth season of People's Choice Award-nominated Doctor Who and the phenomenally popular series' new spin-off The Sarah Jane Adventures from BBC Worldwide America. Both series are slated to premier on SCI FI in April 2008.

The Sarah Jane Adventures is written and produced by the same creative team behind Doctor Who, including multi-award winning writer Russell T. Davies. Having traveled the universe with The Doctor, Sarah Jane is used to alien encounters. Accompanied by her new young friends Maria, Luke and Clyde, she becomes embroiled in an offbeat world of mystery and danger.

In season four of Doctor Who, David Tennant reprises his role as the tenth Timelord. For his latest adventures he is joined by a brand new companion, Donna Noble, played by award-winning actress Catherine Tate (The Catherine Tate Show, BBC AMERICA) who appeared as 'the runaway bride' in the previous season. 'Martha Jones,' played by Freema Agyeman, the Doctor's most recent companion, who had a dramatic role last season's finale, makes a triumphant return in the middle of season four.

"We are excited to have Doctor Who back on SCI FI for its 4th season," said Chris Regina, Vice President of Programming, SCI FI Channel. "It's an exciting franchise that continues to reinvent itself for new generations of viewers. The youthful appeal of The Sarah Jane Adventures will no doubt attract even younger new viewers."

Candace Carlisle, EVP Sales and Co-productions, BBC Worldwide Americas commented, "The imagination of Russell and the rest of the production team in Cardiff who have produced these two incredible shows is outstanding. We are so pleased that the loyal fans of the SCI FI Channel will be able to meet a whole new range of characters and aliens that are intrinsically linked to the Doctor's history. Both 'Sarah Jane Adventures' and the new season of 'Doctor Who' are jam packed with some of the most creative storylines ever produced by the BBC's brilliant team."

The third season of the new Doctor Who averaged 1.3 million weekly viewers on SCI FI.

The deals were brokered by Lisa Hofer, Vice President of Co-Production & Sales, BBC Worldwide Americas. Executive Producers for The Sarah Jane Adventures are Russell T Davies, Head of Drama, BBC Wales, Julie Gardner and Phil Collinson. The series producer is Matthew Bouch. Doctor Who season four is produced by Phil Collinson; Executive Producers are Julie Gardner and Russell T Davies. Doctor Who season four is a BBC production in association with CBC.

SCI FI Channel is a television network where "what if" is what's on. SCI FI fuels the imagination of viewers with original series and events, blockbuster movies and classic science fiction and fantasy programming, as well as a dynamic Web site (www.scifi.com ) and magazine. Launched in 1992, and currently in 93 million homes, SCI FI Channel is a network of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies.

BBC Worldwide Americas incorporates the U.S., Canadian and Latin American arms of BBC Worldwide, a commercial and wholly owned subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). With offices in New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, Sao Paulo and Miami, BBC Worldwide Americas has five core businesses: Channels, TV Sales, Content & Production, Home Entertainment and Digital Media. Profit from BBC Worldwide is returned to the BBC public service.

FILTER: - Series 4/30 - Sarah Jane - Broadcasting

News bits and bobs

Sunday, 3 February 2008 - Reported by Josiah Rowe

A few Torchwood items and a number of slightly offbeat entries this time.

Torchwood

The Star-Ledger (New Jersey) reviews Torchwood's "Sleeper".

UK SF Book News has a feature on the Torchwood comic in Titan Magazine's Torchwood Magazine.

And the Daily Record briefly reviews John Barrowman's autobiography "Anything Goes".

Odd Who News

Philip Glenister tells the Western Mail that he watches The Sarah Jane Adventures, though he doesn't quite remember the program's name correctly:

Today, his favourite TV includes unexpected fare such as The Sarah Jane Mysteries -- but that’s because of his two young daughters by his actress wife Beth Goddard; the family lives in East Sheen, Surrey, where fame hasn’t gone to his head, and where he enjoys a "normal suburban existence".

"Yes, The Sarah Jane Mysteries, it’s one of those series you think might not work -- it's an off-shoot of Doctor Who -- but my girls adore it," he says. "The girls are just getting into Doctor Who now. We never let them watch it before, because we thought they’d wake up with nightmares."

Recent issues of two American magazines aimed at "fan culture" highlight Doctor Who and Torchwood actresses. Geek Monthly puts the return of Billie Piper to Doctor Who at #7 in its "Son of the BIG List: Our yearly roundup of Stuff That Rules", and has an interview with Eve Myles. And Wizard listsFreema Agyeman at #16 in its list of the "Sexiest Women of TV".

Wales on Sunday quotes Coleen McLoughlin, the girlfriend of English football (soccer) player Wayne Rooney, as saying that she'd love to be the next Doctor Who companion.

And io9 pronounces that Kroll, the giant octopus from the 1978 Doctor Who story The Power of Kroll, is the tallest of all giant monsters, looking down on puny creatures like Godzilla and the monster from Cloverfield.

(Thanks to Larry Carter, and to "PolyG" and "Alia" of the Doctor Who Forum.)

FILTER: - People - Torchwood

Spirituality and Doctor Who

Saturday, 2 February 2008 - Reported by Josiah Rowe

A conference on Spirituality and Doctor Who will be held at Wilson Carlile Campus in Sheffield, Yorkshire onSaturday, April 19. According to the day's organizers, "Christian themes and images in Doctor Who - both classic and new - will be explored. But there will also be a respectful look at other shades and faiths in Doctor Who, including ecological and Buddhist themes in the Jon Pertwee era, mystic parables in the Peter Davison era and the optimistic atheism of current Doctor Who creator Russell T Davies." Barry Letts, producer of Doctor Who from 1970 to 1975, is one of the confirmed guests for the event. There is a press release here, and online sign-up is available here.

FILTER: - Classic Series

Phil Collinson becomes Head of Drama, Manchester

Friday, 1 February 2008 - Reported by Chuck Foster

The BBC have announced that Doctor Who producer Phil Collinson will be moving to BBC Manchester to assume the role of Head of Drama. He is expected to begin his new job after the completion of Doctor Who's fourth series.

Peter Salmon, Chief Creative Officer of BBC Vision Productions, said: "Phil Collinson is a terrific addition to a brilliant top team working on in-house drama throughout the UK. His signing reflects renewed ambition and confidence here at the end of a stunning spell of output. BBC Drama Production is at the top of its game and Phil brings yet more experience and flair to in-house programme making. His arrival also marks the BBC's renewed commitment to Northern drama talent, at a time when its base in the North West of England is to be strengthened considerably throughout. BBC Drama Production will play a major role at the new BBC centre at mediacity:uk through Phil and his team."

Russell T Davies said: "Phil has been the secret hero of Doctor Who for the past four years, and we'll miss him more than I can say – but the most exciting thing about this new job is that so many more producers, writers and actors will get to work with him. I envy them!"

Full details may be found in the BBC's press release, and the news is also covered by the Guardian and The Stage.

FILTER: - People

Sarah Jane coming to America

Friday, 1 February 2008 - Reported by Josiah Rowe

In an interview with Russell T. Davies, the Los Angeles Timesmentions in passing that The Sarah Jane Adventures will be broadcast in the United States on the Sci Fi Channel beginning in April.

The article also states that Doctor Who's next season will begin on Sci Fi in April. The BBC has not announced a broadcast date for Series Four in the UK, but the program will air in Britain before any international broadcasts.

In the Los Angeles Times interview, Davies also talks about the success of Doctor Who, his attitude towards sexuality on Torchwood and past projects such as Bob and Rose.

He also notes that he deliberately keeps organized fandom at arm's length: "I think we're an unusual science-fiction franchise in taking a very big step back from fandom and having nothing to do with them. . . . Every program on the BBC has a message board on the website. I forbid it to happen on 'Doctor Who.' I'm sorry to say this, all the science fiction producers making stuff in America, they are way too engaged with their fandom. They all need to step back."

FILTER: - USA - Sarah Jane - Broadcasting

Previous 2 Stories