Big Finish Announces New US Subscriber Service

Thursday, 4 January 2007 - Reported by Jarrod Cooper
In a recent statement by John Ainsworth, Big Finish has announced Alien Entertainment as the new Offical Subscription service for Big Finish:
Big Finish are very pleased to announce that they have been able to agree terms on a new US subscription service. From 1st January 2007, Alien Entertainment will be offering subscribers the same, exclusive incentives currently enjoyed by customers who subscribe direct with Big Finish. Alien Entertainment subscribers will receive the Big Finish Magazine CD and the free subscriber special adventure scheduled for December 2007. Unfortunately, we are unable to backdate this service, and all free subscriber discs prior to January 2007 will not be available, except direct from Big Finish at www.bigfinish.com. In addition there will be a new magazine disc - Big Finish Update #1 - which will be available to all dealers due to be released in the Spring.

Unfortunately, due to circumstances that cannot be discussed at this time, Big Finish are presently unable to supply Ministry of Sound and Vision. Existing MOSV subscribers and customers who are owed merchandise from MOSV should contact Big Finish direct at mailorderenquiries@bigfinish.com.

Alien Entertainment can be found at www.alienentertainment.com
Toll Free Telephone number: 1-888-734-7386
Customer Service Hours: Tuesday through Saturday 12noon – 7pm central time




FILTER: - Audio

New Eighth Doctor Series Begins

Saturday, 23 December 2006 - Reported by Jarrod Cooper
Today sees the CD release of Blood of the Daleks, Part 1, the first in a new series of adventures for the Eighth Doctor, produced by Big Finish. The series, to be broadcast starting on New Years Eve at 6pm and midnight on BBC7, features Paul McGann as the Doctor alongside Sheridan Smith as Lucie Miller, and is written by Steve Lyons. Included in the release is a poster and an audio featurette. Full cast and plot information is available at the Big Finish website

Meanwhile, the CD cover for Blood of the Daleks, Part Two has been released; click on the thumbnail below for a larger version.




FILTER: - Audio

The Gunfighters

Tuesday, 19 December 2006 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
As previously reported, BBC Audio is releasing The Gunfighters on CD on February 5, 2007. The full soundtrack is narrated by Peter Purves (Steven). The official cover blurb and illustration are below; click on the thumbnail for a larger version. (Thanks to Paul Taylor/Tenth Planet)
Doctor Who: The Gunfighters

The TARDIS lands in the Wild West in this classic BBC TV soundtrack starring William Hartnell, with linking narration by Peter Purves.

'So come, you coyotes, and howl at the moon'til there's blood upon the sawdust in The Last Chance Saloon…' It's 1881 and, in the Wild West settlement of Tombstone, there are three strangers in town: 'Doctor Caligari', 'Steven Regret', and 'Miss Dodo Dupont'. They've arrived in a 20th Century blue police box, and they're about to wander into a whole heap of trouble...

The Doctor is in need of a dentist, but the sort of anaesthetic Doc Holliday uses comes out of a liquor bottle. He's in the middle of a feud with the Clanton family, whilst Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson try to keep the peace. This isn't the place for a relaxing holiday, as the TARDIS crew soon discover...

Tombstone's not the most happily named of towns, and it seems it may live up to that name any day now. There's a gunfight at the OK Corral brewing and, if the Doctor and his friends aren't careful, they're going to be caught in the crossfire...

In a bonus interview, Peter Purves, who also narrates this remastered soundtrack, recalls the making of The Gunfighters for television. A special 10-minute bonus music segment is also included.




FILTER: - Audio - William Hartnell - Classic Series

Colin Baker to Guest Star in Sapphire and Steel

Monday, 18 December 2006 - Reported by R Alan Siler
Big Finish has announced plans for the remainder of Season Two of their adaptation of Sapphire and Steel, which includes stories by Nigel Fairs ("Cruel Immortality") and Steve Lyons ("Perfect Day", featuring a return of a Season One character, Gold, played by Doctor Who writer Mark Gatiss).

The season finale, penned by Joseph Lidster, is "The Mystery of the Missing Hour", which guest stars Sixth DoctorColin Baker as the Narrator and Sarah Douglas (known for her roles in Superman II and the television mini-series V) as Lady Marjorie.

The Sapphire and Steel series stars David Warner as Steel and Susannah Harker as Sapphire. Visit the Sapphire and Steel page on the Big Finish website for more details about these releases.




FILTER: - People - Audio - Colin Baker

"Celebration" Concert on BBCi

Saturday, 16 December 2006 - Reported by Josiah Rowe
Last month, the BBC National Orchestra of Wales held a special concert of Murray Gold's Doctor Who music. Tickets to the concert sold out within hours. This Christmas, UK fans with digital, cable, satellite or Freeview will be able to watch Doctor Who: A Celebration on BBCi via the "red button". The programme will be available:
  • Christmas Day: after the Doctor Who Confidential broadcast, between 1.50-7pm
  • Christmas Day: after the Doctor Who Christmas Special The Runaway Bride, BBCi on BBC One between 8.50pm and 4am (ends 1.45am on Freeview)
    Wednesday 27 December: BBCi on BBC Three, 8.50pm-4am (ends 1.45am on Freeview)
  • Tuesday 2 January: BBCi on BBC Three, 7.50pm-4am (not Freeview)
  • Wednesday 3 January: BBCi on BBC Three, 7.50pm-4am (not Freeview)

More details are available at the website of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.




FILTER: - Murray Gold - Special Events - Audio

Soundtrack comes in at #1

Monday, 11 December 2006 - Reported by DWNP Archive
The first official release of Murray Gold's soundtrack to Doctor Who has gone to the top of the download chart from itunes according to a report from the BBC. Going against strong competition such as the soundtrack to the new James Bond film the release made it into the top 30 picks on the first day.




FILTER: - Murray Gold - Audio

Radio Times - two free audio Dr Who books on the way

Thursday, 7 December 2006 - Reported by Kenny Davidson
According to the editorial in the new Radio Times, two audio Dr Who books will be given away free, across the next four issues, starting with the next Christmas Double Issue. The double CD 's, given away a single one at a time, feature stories read by David Tennant and start with part one of The Feast of the Drowned, written by Stephen Cole.




FILTER: - Audio - Magazines - Radio Times

American Big Finish Delays

Monday, 4 December 2006 - Reported by Jarrod Cooper
Many of the major American retailers for Big Finish products have noticed a recent delay in getting titles. This is due to negotiations that are going on between Big Finish and The Ministry of Sound and Vision, their North American distributor. Many retailers are affected by this delay, and subscribers should be aware that they are working on the problem. Some websites, such as Who North America and DoctorWhoStore.com, have recieved copies of the missing stories directly from Big Finish. This follows on the decision made earlier this year to make special releases and subscriber extras available exclusively to those who subscribe directly from Big Finish.




FILTER: - USA - Audio

Short Trips Contest

Monday, 4 December 2006 - Reported by Jarrod Cooper
Big Finish has announced a writing contest in which the winner would see their story published in an upcoming volume of Short Trips. The contest is open to anyone, of any age, who has never had a work of fiction published that they have been paid for. In the past Big Finish has held similar competitions for their Bernice Summerfield range, but this is the first time that the door has been opened to the Doctor Who range.

Submissions should be less than 2,500 words. Participants are free to use any of the Classic Series Doctors and their companions. The Theme for entries will be: "How the Doctor changed my life."

A full list of rules and restrictions is available at the Big Finish website. Deadline for entries is January 31, 2007.




FILTER: - Audio

Bernice: 15 Years and Beyond!!

Monday, 4 December 2006 - Reported by Jarrod Cooper
2007 marks the 15th Anniversary of Bernice Summerfield. To celebrate this landmark achievement, Big Finish Productions has announced their releases for the year.

February sees the release of the long-awaited Bernice Summerfield - The Inside Story by Ian Farrington and Simon Guerrier. This book with track Benny from her first appearance in Doctor Who Magazine #192 to the explosive events of her eighth audio season.

February also sees the publication of Missing Adventures, an anthology edited by Rebecca Levene which will be focused on Bernice's early adventures.

Season Eight releases start in February with The Tub Full of Cats by Daniel O'Mahony. April sees The Judas Gift by Nick Wallace, with Freedom of Information by Eddie Robson following in June. Dave Stone takes us to The End of the World in August, while Joseph Lidster's The Final Amendment comes out in October. The Audio Season ends with The Wake by Simon Guerrier in December.

Also seeing publication in 2007 are two more books: The Two Jasons by Dave Stone, War Stories by Jonathan Blum, Kate Orman and Philip Purser-Hallard.

More Details are available at Big Finish's Bernice Summerfield homepage.




FILTER: - Audio