BBC Confirms Series Production Begins

Monday, 19 July 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
The BBC News website has confirmed that production has commenced on the new Doctor Who series. "Shoppers in Cardiff will have a sneak preview of life in the fourth dimension as filming of the new Doctor Who series starts this week," the article says, confirming other news reports over the weekend. (Thanks to Paul Hayes)




FILTER: - Series 1/27 - Filming Reports

Doctor Who's Traffic Chaos

Saturday, 17 July 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
NewsWales ran an article yesterday called "Dr Who causes traffic chaos" about the new series starting production. "Cardiff commuters will have to make way for Dr Who next week as the BBC uses the cityÆs streets for the filming of the new series. Working Street and St John Street will be closed from 6pm on Tuesday July 20 until 5am on Wednesday July 21 to make way for BBC crews and filming û but allowances will be made for pedestrians coming from the St DavidÆs Hall concerts. St Mary Street, High Street and Guildhall Place will also be closed from 11pm on Wednesday July 21 until 5am on Thursday July 22. BBC Wales is producing the television comeback of Dr Who. The new series, written by Swansea-born dramatist Russell T. Davies, will star Christopher Eccleston as Dr Who and Billie Piper as his companion. The 13-episode series is to be shown on the BBC early next year." (Thanks to Paul Hayes)

Also... the Western Mail newspaper is running a similar article that has roughly the same information, stating " A different time zone wil descend on streets in Cardiff as film crews close roads for the filming of the new Doctor Who series." A number of retailers in the area have been advised that filming will commence this coming week, most of which will take place in the early evenings. (Thanks to Colin John Francis, Gil Williams)




FILTER: - Series 1/27 - Filming Reports - Press

New Series Filming Begins - updated!

Friday, 16 July 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
Outpost Gallifrey has received a number of reliable reports in the past 24 hours stating the same thing: production of the first episode of the new Doctor Who series will begin this Sunday, July 18, or Monday, July 19. Meanwhile, an ITV teletext report today states the following: "Cameras will start to roll on the new Dr Who series on Monday, an insider has confirmed. Filming on the 13-part series takes place in and around Cardiff and production staff have been sworn to secrecy. They have not been allowed to divulge details of plots, characters or even who is writing the music. The first batch of episodes is to be directed by Keith Boak." Whether Sunday or Monday, within the next few days, the next era of Doctor Who will be under way...

Outpost Gallifrey offers our best wishes and good luck to the folks on the new series production who read this website as well as everyone involved in the show, and our congratulations on bringing Doctor Who back to television. We're all waiting with breathless anticipation!




FILTER: - Series 1/27 - Filming Reports

Lost In Time Update

Thursday, 15 July 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
On the Restoration Team Forum today, details for the "Lost In Time" DVD set have been released (BBC Worldwide apparently confirming it and allowing the topic to be discussed there.) The full feature list is as follows, confirming some of the details but discounting others (notably, despite reports on OG and elsewhere, telesnap photo sessions and the "Making of Fury From the Deep" documentary are not included.) According to Steve Roberts of the RT, "With the exception of 'The Lion' [episode 1 of 'The Crusade'], which is the original 1999 transfer, albeit with some additional cleanup, all the remaining episodes are new Spirit transfers from the best surviving materials, cleaned up and VidFIREd to our usual standard" while, according to Mark Ayres, "All episodes have been newly-remastered - pictures and sound. (With the honourable exception of some we'd done relatively recently - Web 1, and the Faceless eps)." As for the updated "Missing Years" documentary, says Paul Vanezis, "The Missing Years is being kept intact as was, not changes have been made to the body of the programme. The additional material consists of a short feature in the style of 'Since this programme was made...'." It also appears that it may be released simultaneously in the UK and North America. The list of features is below (with thanks to the Restoration Team).
LOST IN TIME COLLECTION

Disc 1 (Hartnell Years disc in North America)
Episodes: "The Crusade" 1; "The Crusade" 3 (with commentary by Julian Glover, Gary Russell); "The DaleksÆ Master Plan" 2 (commentary by Peter Purves, Kevin Stoney, Ray Cusick); "The DaleksÆ Master Plan" 5 & 10; "The Celestial Toymaker" 4
Audio Only: "The Crusade" 2, 4
Special Features: Surviving clips from "The Daleks' Master Plan," "The Smugglers," "The Tenth Planet"; location film from "The Smugglers"; introductions to episodes 1, 3 of "The Crusade" plus afterword; 8mm off-screen footage from the Hartnell Era - various clips; Easter Egg no.1.

Disc 2 (Troughton Years #1 disc in North America)
Episodes: "The Underwater Menace" 3; "The Moonbase" 2, 4; "The Faceless Ones" 1, 3; "The Evil of the Daleks" 2 (with commentary by Deborah Watling, Gary Russell)
Audio Only: "The Moonbase" 1, 3
Special Features: "The Power of the Daleks" BBC1 trail; surviving clips from "The Power of the Daleks," "The Highlanders," "The Underwater Menace," "The Macra Terror"; 8mm film of "The Evil of the Daleks" in studio, with commentary (as "The Last Dalek"); 8mm off-screen footage from the Troughton era - various clips; Easter Egg no.2.

Disc 3 (Troughton Years #2 disc in North America)
Episodes: "The Abominable Snowmen" 2 (with commentary by Deborah Watling, Gary Russell); "The Enemy of the World" 3; "The Web of Fear" 1 (with commentary by Deborah Watling, Derrick Sherwin, Gary Russell); "The Wheel in Space" 3; "The Wheel in Space" 6 (with commentary by Derrick Sherwin, Tristan deVere Cole); "The Space Pirates" 2.
Special Features: Location film from "The Abominable Snowmen"; surviving clips from "The Abominable Snowmen," "The Web of Fear," "Fury From the Deep," "The Wheel in Space"; film inserts from "The Space Pirates"; 8mm colour film shot in the studio from "Fury From the Deep"; raw film trims from "Fury From the Deep" battle in episode 6; "The Missing Years" updated version of the 1998 BBC Video documentary.

Note: The North American discs also include a "Who's Who" biography option like all others in the series.




FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

The Lost in Time Collection

Wednesday, 14 July 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
Though BBC Worldwide for some reason won't officially confirm any sort of UK release for the forthcoming Lost in Time Collection, the collection of orphan Doctor Who episodes coming out this November (despite the fact that retailers already have an early November date for sale), BBC Worldwide America not only has confirmed it but has released cover illustrations for the North American release, also due in November, and details about the individual sets. Below are the cover illustrations for the complete North American edition, which is two DVD sets packaged together, as well as the individual versions on sale here, one with each Doctor. (We don't know if they're being offered separately in the UK, but apparently the North American edition is done so.)
Lost in Time: The William Hartnell Years
Never broadcast in the US, these episodes offer an enticing glimpse into 'lost' stories that have achieved legendary status. Fans can relish rare appearances of the Daleks as well as guest star turns by Julian Glover (Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade), Michael Gough (Batman) and Jean Marsh (Upstairs, Downstairs). New to video is Episode 2 of "The Daleks' Master Plan," the story that marked the series debut of Nicholas Courtney, who later returned time and again as Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart. Includes episodes 1 and 3 of "The Crusade"; episodes 2, 5 and 10 of "The Daleks' Master Plan" and episode 4 of "The Celestial Toymaker". Featuring audio commentary by actors Julian Glover, Peter Purves, Kevin Stoney, designer Raymond P. Cusick and moderator Gary Russell; clips from episodes 1, 3 and 4 of "The Daleks' Master Plan"; a reel of 8mm off-screen clips; Who's Who actor biographies; narrative links; and photo gallery. Single CD; WHV Catalog #E2081.

Lost in Time: The Patrick Troughton Years
Never broadcast in the US, these episodes offer an enticing glimpse into 'lost' stories that have achieved legendary status. Fans can relish rare appearances of the Daleks, Cybermen and Yeti, as well as an episode from the second Doctor Who story by Robert Holmes, the series' most influential writer. Includes episode 3 of "The Underwater Menace"; episodes 2 and 4 of "The Moonbase"; episodes 1 and 3 of "The Faceless Ones"; episode 2 of "The Evil of the Daleks"; episode 2 of "The Abominable Snowmen"; episode 3 of "The Enemy of the World"; episode 1 of "The Web of Fear"; episodes 3 and 6 of "The Wheel In Space" and episode 2 of "The Space Pirates". Featuring audio commentary by actor Deborah Watling, director Tristan de Vere Cole, story editor Derrick Sherwin and moderator Gary Russell; deleted scenes from "Power of the Daleks" and "The Abominable Snowmen"; Australia and New Zealand censor clips; the fan-produced documentary special "The Making of Fury From the Deep"; audio versions of episodes 1 and 3 of "The Moonbase"; a 50-minute featurette on missing episodes; Who's Who actor biographies; and photo gallery. Double CD; WHV Catalog #E2082.

Lost in Time: The Complete Collection
Contains "Lost In Time: The William Hartnell Years" and "Lost in Time: The Patrick Troughton Years". WHV Catalog #E2083.




FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

Effects From the Mill

Wednesday, 14 July 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
CGI effects house The Mill are involved in the effects for the new Doctor Who series, according to a forthcoming article in issue #120 of "Dreamwatch" Magazine (and possibly also in next week's new "Doctor Who Magazine" as well). As soon as we have confirmation of this, we'll bring it to you!




FILTER: - Production - Series 1/27

And So, It Begins...

Wednesday, 14 July 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
It appears as though the new era of Doctor Who is about to begin; several correspondents have reported to Outpost Gallifrey that visible signs of production have been spotted in Cardiff, including the presence of Billie Piper at a local music store. There has been much speculation that a mid-July date was the start of filming, as hinted at in several recent newspaper reports that suggest that July was the target date. We're attempting to find out the exact date of the start of production and will bring it to you when we can.




FILTER: - Production - Series 1/27

Colin McCormack

Tuesday, 6 July 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
Colin McCormack, who played the Commander in episodes 3 & 4 of "The Sun Makers" died on June 19, age 60. (Thanks to Trevor Dobbin)




FILTER: - Obituary - Classic Series

Leisure Hive Australia

Monday, 5 July 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
According to the ABC Shop website, October 2004 is the tentative release date for The Leisure Hive on DVD in Australia. It's likely that a New Zealand release will follow within a few weeks as usual. It appears from recent releases that the Australia DVDs are following on about 3 months after the UK versions, in a one-every-two-month pattern. (Thanks to David Dungey)




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

DVDs Lost in Time

Sunday, 4 July 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
The late-year release of the "orphan" Doctor Who episodes on DVD now has a name: the Lost in Time Collection, according to Galaxy 4; it's due in November. The boxed set will include all 18 'orphaned' episodes including the recent "Daleks Master Plan" episode 2.




FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD