Starz have announced that the cast of Torchwood: Miracle Day will appear at the annual Comic Con taking place at the San Diego Convention Center on 22nd July 2011.

A panel for the show is scheduled for 10:00am at the event, with Starz naming the following to appear for the Q&A session: John Barrowman (Captain Jack Harkness), Eve Myles (Gwen Cooper), Bill Pullman (Oswald Danes), Mekhi Phifer (Rex Matheson), Alexa Havins (Esther Drummand), Lauren Ambrose (Jilly Kitzinger) and series writer Jane Espenson.

The event will also present a special advanced screening of the third episode of the series, Dead Of Night, on the 21st at 9:30pm - the evening before its official broadcast date.


The San Diego Comic Con is no stranger to Torchwood: back in 2009, John Barrowman appeared on a panel alongside Russell T Davies, Julie Gardner and Euros Lyn to promote Torchwood: Children of Earth.

Earlier this month, BBC Worldwide revealed details on its plans to install the Doctor Who Experience at Cardiff Bay during the spring next year. Today, Welsh media outlets have been reporting on how this project will be partly financed by Cardiff County Council through its council tax revenue.

A council spokesperson explained how the initial financing will prove ultimately beneficial to the city's future economy:
Councillor David Walker observed:
However, what was initially thought to be a permanent home for the Doctor Who Experience has now been revealed as a temporary measure being built on land that is earmarked for residential purposes; permission is currently being sought to construct what is being described as "a massive tent" to house the adventure and exhibition aspects of the attraction over the next five years. Whether this is an interim solution before a final, permanent home has been built remains unknown.

With just three weeks until Torchwood: Miracle Day premieres on Starz on 8th July, potential viewers in the UK are still awaiting a date for when the series will air on BBC1(HD).

Speculation over the planned timeslot has raged ever since the Starz announcement in March, and it was hoped by by fans in the UK for a similar Friday 8th July evening premiere - however, the BBC Press Office have now released details for Week 27, and Torchwood has not been scheduled for any time that week.

The confirmation that Miracle Day won't be shown on the same evening as the United States is not unexpected, as this coming Friday sees the new, final series of My Family commencing at 9:00pm on BBC1, followed by a repeat of Miranda at 9:30pm - based on its post-watershed content, the 9:00-10:00pm timeslot seemed most likely for Miracle Day (Children of Earth was in shown at this time for similar reasons).

As the weekly coverage from the BBC only reaches 8th July, it cannot be confirmed quite yet whether the series will commence over the following weekend, as with UKTV in Australia (Saturday 9th, 9:30pm), or at a later date.

SPACE have also yet to confirm their premiere date for Canada.

This year's Alt.Fiction Literary Festival takes place at the QUAD, Derby on 25th-26th June, and is to feature a many writers from the worlds of Doctor Who and Torchwood.

The event's co-Guest of Honour is Dan Abnett, author of Border Princes and of some 40+ comics/novels in his career; he will be making a keynote address on the Saturday, as well as panels, readings and podcasts.

Long-term Doctor Who writers and modern series contributors Paul Cornell (Father's Day, Human Nature/Family of Blood) and Rob Shearman (Dalek) are also at the event, alongside a number of other BBC Books writers including
Guy Adams, Paul Finch, James Goss, Una McCormack, Mark Morris, Sarah Pinborough and books editor Steve Tribe.

Tribe says:
Alt.Fiction Coordinator Alex Davis says:

As well as the Doctor Who guests, the Festival will some 50+ authors, agents and editors participating, covering the worlds of science fiction, fantasy and horror. For full details visit the Alt.Fiction website.

The international version of the BBC iPlayer moved one step closer to fruition, with the BBC's President of Worldwide Networks and Global iPlayer, Jana Bennett, presenting the plans for a staged rollout across Western Europe over the coming months.

Speaking at the 2011 Banff World Media Festival yesterday, she explained that, unlike the domestic version, the international iPlayer is not restricted to programmes that have already been shown on television.

This version of the iPlayer will initially be a beta service available on Apple i-platforms, though other mobile and Internet-based access are expected to follow later. It was originally believed that the United States rather than Europe was the target for the initial roll-out, with the BBC's Director General, Mark Thompson, reporting in March that it would be offered as a monthly fee under the $10 mark; the European price is yet to be finalised, but is expected to be around €6-7 a month.

AudioGo have announced the release of two more titles in their range of Doctor Who spoken stories. The Eye of the Jungle joins the range of original Eleventh Doctor adventures, with David Troughton imparting a tale set within the Amazon rainforests of 1827. Meanwhile, the ongoing series of Target novelisations continues with John Peel's adaptation of Hartnell romp The Chase, narrated by Vicki herself, Maureen O'Brien, plus Dalek voices by Nicholas Briggs.

Also, out this month:

BBC1 Controller Danny Cohen today revealed that, after much speculation generated since the Private Eye article and subsequent BBC announcements last week, Doctor Who will indeed be returning in a curtailed form during 2012.

Speaking at the Church and Media Conference this afternoon, he answered a number of questions relating to Doctor Who and Sherlock:

The BBC's Entertainment Correspondent Lizo Mzimba later confirmed the comments in the evening, but added that the BBC had said those made by Cohen on the decision being made to enable head writer Steven Moffat more time to write his other hit series Sherlock were light-hearted and not meant to be taken seriously.

No other details are known on how many episodes will comprise the 2012 run at present; Sam Hodges, who confirmed the commissioning last week, re-iterated: "situation stays the same - 14 episodes commissioned, starting in 2012. How they will play out will be revealed at a later date.


Later, commenting on the various media stories circulating over Cohen's announcement, Steven Moffat said: "Dr Who: misquotes and misunderstandings. But I'm not being bounced into announcing the cool stuff before we're ready. Hush, and patience."

The BBC have moved to the next stage of their disposal of London's Television Centre today with an announcement that the site has formally been placed onto the market.

Chris Kane, the Head of BBC Workplace, said:

Television Centre is seen by many as the 'home' of the BBC and the source of many successful series over the decades since its opening in 1960, including of course "classic Doctor Who"; however, the Corporation has been planning the sale of the site since 2007, citing the need to "reduce the property portfolio" in order to "deliver a smaller but fitter organisation." Today, Richard Deverell, W12 Programme Director, commented:

Last year, the BBC's in-house magazine Ariel reported that the partially listed landmark "could form the centrepiece of a community of media organisations, performing arts groups, facility providers and even fashion houses." Today, the press release re-iterated that "apart from a conventional sale, the Corporation is keen to investigate opportunities for redeveloping Television Centre that preserve the key listed elements of the iconic building, but also afford the opportunity to establish a hub for creative businesses and a visitor destination."

The annual Portal Awards have been announced by Airlock Alpha, with Doctor Who once more well represented within the various categories.

Best Actor sees Matt Smith nominated for his role as The Doctor; he will face competition from Andrew Lincoln (The Walking Dead), Sean Bean (Game of Thrones), Joshua Jackson (Fringe), and Eddie McClintock (Warehouse 13). This award was won overwhelmingly by David Tennant last year with some 68% of the vote (with second place going to John Barrowman with 10%!).

Similarly, Best Actress sees co-star Karen Gillan pitted against Lena Headey (Game of Thrones), Anna Torv (Fringe), Paula Malcomson (Caprica), and Summer Glau (The Cape). Gillan lost out last year to Eve Myles for her portrayal as Gwen Cooper in Torchwood: Children of Earth.

Doctor Who itself is nominated for Best Television Series, which it won last year (Torchwood came second). This year sees it up against Fringe, Game of Thrones, Stargate: Universe and The Walking Dead. Also, The Doctor's Wife has been nominated in the Best Television Episode category, facing episodes from Fringe, Stargate: Universe, Game of Thrones and Caprica.

Alex Kingston has been nominated for Best Television Special Guest, an award she won last year for The Time of Angels; this time her role in Day of the Moon is being recognised, and she faces competition from another Doctor Who guest, Michael Gambon for A Christmas Carol. Christopher Lloyd and Leonard Nimoy are also nominated for Fringe, plus Michael Rosenbaum for Smallville.

The late Elisabeth Sladen has been nominated for the Gene Roddenberry Award which honours lifetime achievement; the other nominees are H.G. Wells, J.J. Abrams, Rick Berman and Gene L. Coon.


The full list of categories are available from Airlock Alpha, and fans will be able to vote from the 25th June until 24th July.

BBC America have now revealed the winner of their Where's The TARDIS? competition: announced during broadcast of the mid-series finale, A Good Man Goes To War, last night saw the Bull Family from Wisconsin succeed over hundreds of submissions to the competition, with entrants sending in pictures of the TARDIS in strange and exotic places.



A variety of the many entries can be seen on the Where's The TARDIS? website.

---

Over in the UK, police boxes have featured a number of times in the National Shed of the Year awards held by Cuprinol's We Love Sheds, and this year sees one through to the finals. It was built by design engineer John Williams from Newport, who said:

His competition includes a Bygones Museum in Scratby, Norfolk by Dad's Army enthusiast Darren Stride, a Diner and "The George and Dragon". The winner will be announced on the 4th July.

[South Wales Argus; Wales on Sunday]

---

Another TARDIS garden shed in the news originated from student Luke Palmer, who built his own as part of a school technology project. The project took some four months to complete and cost around £1000.

The seventeen year old is a founding member of Charity Daleks, which aims to raise money for charities such as The British Heart Foundation, PHAB and Marie Curie.

[Wiltshire Gazette and Herald]

---

The trend continues, as Zachary Smith got a surprise for his fifth birthday in the form of his very own TARDIS! It was built by his father, Lee, who said:

Zachary's mother Anna added:

[Daily Mail; Somerset Western Gazette]

---

Herne Bay in Kent is the subject of a couple of "TARDIS" projects initiated by local prop-maker Jason Onion to honour Anthony Coburn - credited with inventing the Doctor's 'home' - who lived there until his death in 1977.

As widely reported in the press, one aim is to place a police box on the seafront; the other is to install one within the local library to inspire and encourage future writers. Both are currently being considered for planning permission.

Jason added:

The project was also covered in a local news film by BBC South East.

[Herne Bay Gazette, BBC News]

---

Finally, a success story in the world of preservation. Back in 2009 the media covered the plight of a police box in Somerton, Newport, which whilst a Grade II listed building was in danger of completely collapsing due to "concrete rot". However, a Cadw grant at the beginning of 2010 was made available to restore the box, which can now be seen once again standing in all its glory!

September 2009

May 2011