Earlier in the month we reported that members of the Torchwood: Miracle Day" cast and crew would be appearing as this year's San Diego Comic Con, courtesy of Starz. Today, BBC America have announced that Doctor Who will also be represented, with Matt Smith and Karen Gillan making their first appearance at such an event.

The two time travellers will be on a panel on Sunday 24th July, alongside writer Toby Whithouse and executive producers Beth Willis and Piers Wenger, as detailed below:

The third annual French Comic Con kicks off today at the Paris-Nord Villepinte Exhibition Center, and as reported last month will feature a number of Doctor Who related activities, not least being the French debut of opening two episodes of Series Six, The Impossible Astronaut and Day of the Moon.

The two episodes will centre-case the Sunday proceedings featuring the event's Guest of Honour, Steven Moffat; from 11:30am there will be a masterclass by Doctor Who's head writer, followed by episodes themselves from 12:30pm. Afterwards Moffat will feature in a Doctor Who conference (2:30pm), followed by a signing session from 4:00pm.

Selected episodes of Doctor Who written by Moffat will also be screened, with Les Anges Pleureurs (Blink) today at 4:00pm, and La Bibliothèque des Ombres (Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead) tomorrow from 12:30pm.

Saturday is dedicated to Moffat's other successful series, Sherlock, which has also been translated into French. A conference on the dub takes place from midday with Roland Timsit (artistic director) and Gilles Morvan (voice of Sherlock Holmes); this is then followed by a signing session from 1:30pm and then a screening of the first episode, Une Etude en Rose (A Study in Pink) at 2:45pm.


The full Comic Con schedule can be found on their website.

Steven Moffat appears courtesy of a partnership with BBC Worldwide, France 4 and France Television Distribution.

(with thanks to Aurélie Demonchaux/Beans on Toast)

Starz have teamed up with Landmark Theaters to offer fans in the US the chance to attend a free advance screening of the premiere episode of Torchwood: Miracle Day, The New World on July 5th and 6th.

The official Starz Torchwood Facebook page has added these screenings to their events page.

Please note that seating is limited by capacity. No RSVP or ticket is required as seating is first come, first served. This screening is rated TV-14 and contains mature content. Must be 14 or older to attend.

The Scarlets are hosting BBC Cymru Wales's Roadshow on Sunday 3rd July, which will feature a dedicated Doctor Who section amongst the various activities taking place.

The TARDIS will be present, plus stands presenting the makeup and costumes on the show, plus the chance to see the work that goes into creating a Doctor Who monster; there will also be the opportunity to play The Adventure Games online.

The event is free to enter, and takes place at the Delme Thomas Centre, Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli between 10:00am and 4:30pm. See the Scarlets and BBC Wales websites for full details.

(with thanks to Daffydd Turner)

After enormous public demand, the organisers of the interactive theatre project The Crash of the Elysium at the Manchester International Festival have announced that a number of tickets will be made available enabling adults to enjoy the experience as well as children. The After Dark performances will run at various times between 8:00-9:00pm from 8th-15th July, and are only open to adults and children over thirteen years old.

The Crash of the Elysium will take place at the BBC's new MediaCity UK building at Salford Quays, and is performed by Punchdrunk in association with BBC Worldwide. The experience is written by Punchdrunk's Felix Barrett and Doctor Who writer Tom MacRae, based on an original idea by Steven Moffat.

Tickets (£25) will go on sale exclusively via Ticketmaster from tomorrow (Wednesday) at 10:00am.
(with thanks to Kate Carter/The Corner Shop PR)

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Writer Tom MacRae recently spoke to the Telegraph about the premise behind the show:

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The National Space Centre in Leicester is to once again celebrate Doctor Who this coming weekend (2nd-3rd July); Time and Space will see a weekend of activities organised by the Hyde Fundraisers, with proceeds going towards BBC Children In Need, Comic Relief and other charities.

Two guests are expected over the weekend: Saturday sees third Doctor companion Jo Jones née Grant - aka Katy Manning - drop in, whilst Sunday will be invaded by Dalek creator Davros in the form of Terry Molloy.

Costumes created by the group will be on display, including Ood Sigma, Roboform Santa, Sec Hybrid, and a Clockwork Robot; this will be accompanied by Behind the Monsters, a presentation on how the costumes are created.

In UNIT exposed, visitors will be taken on a tour by the "UNIT Captain" and "The Professor" around the "Lethbridge-Stewart Research Laboratory", where they can learn the truth behind the myths of some captured technology, plus K9 will also be on hand. There will also be a demonstration of the Quantum cannon ...

There is also the opportunity to have photos taken against the group's virtual greenscreen, plus a special presentation about their show, The Trial of Davros.

For full details visit the NSC and Hyde Fundraisers websites.

(with thanks to Kevin Taylor; Katy Manning and Terry Molloy appear thanks to Fantom Films and Galaxy Four)

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Looking ahead, the Hyde Fundraisers are planning a special event on the 17th September: Elisabeth Sladen: A Celebration is to take place at the Ashton-under-Lyne Cineworld, with showings of School Reunion and selected Sarah Jane Adventures, plus invited guests. Proceeds will go towards Children in Need - see the group's webpage for the latest information.

An auction of Doctor Who artwork will be taking place on the 11th July, the proceeds of which are to help fund research by the heart transplant team at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Art for Hearts heave gathered together a variety of works from artists including Lee Binding, Anthony Dry, Colin Howard, Alister Pearson, Peter McKinstry, John Ross and Adrian Salmon; there are also ink caricatures featuring and signed by Steven Moffat, David Tennant and Donald Tosh.


Examples of the artwork can be seen on the Art For Hearts blog along with more details on the auction, and the pieces themselves are currently on display at Orbital Comics in London.

National Transplant Week runs from 4th-10th July.
(with thanks to Ian Stacey)

The Doctor Who Appreciation Society are organising a special launch day to tie in with the release on DVD of Pertwee tale Day of the Daleks.

Taking place at Riverside Studios on the 4th September, the event will see the new, CGI-enhanced version shown on the big screen, plus guest panels with both members of the original cast and those working on this new version of the story. There is also the chance to buy the DVD and have its sleeve signed by those present during autograph sessions.

This event is being presented by permission of 2|Entertain, and tickets are free to anybody wishing to apply - full details on how to get tickets and more information about the afternoon may be found via the DWAS website. Please note that guests will be announced nearer the event.


The Day of the Daleks special edition was originally announced by 2|Entertain at last year's DWAS event, Time and Space.

After the blaze of publicity in London for Monday's preview of episode one of Torchwood: Miracle Day, another, lower key preview took place in Wales last night as cast and crew gathered to watch in Swansea, where UK filming took place earlier in the year.

The preview took place at the Branwyn Hall (seen itself in the previous series, Children of Earth), and as with London the principal cast and crew were available to speak to the press, with an emphasis upon the show's Welsh roots.

Russell T Davies, who was born in the city, told the South Wales Evening Post:
Speaking to the Western Mail, he added:

Eve Myles said:

BBC Wales have released a video with Bill Pullman at the event, talking about his character.

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Russell T Davies also featured on BBC Radio 4's Front Row last night, chatting to presenter Mark Lawson about taking Torchwood from the UK into the US, The Sarah Jane Adventures, and on other topics like the austerity measures within the BBC, the importance of the watershed, and his enthusiasm for his next writing project.

Having talked about what would happen with The Sarah Jane Adventures, discussion then turned towards the audience that would watch Torchwood, and that though it isn't aimed for children some would still watch it through its Doctor Who/Captain Jack connection. Davies commented:
Talking about the co-production deal, he said:

Last night saw the first episode of Torchwood: Miracle Day - The New World - receive its UK premiere at the British Film Institute; cast and crew were in attendance for the screening in front of both press and fans.

The screening was followed by an Q&A with its stars John Barrowman, Eve Myles, and Bill Pullman, and writer/executive producer Russell T Davies; other members of the cast and crew were present in the audience, including Kai Owen, Tom Price, executive producer Julie Gardner and director of episode one, Bharat Nalluri.


Avoiding spoilers for what comes up later in the series, the guests focused upon their many anecdotes from the shoot, with Barrowman and Myles discussing the excitement of making the show at Warner Bros - not to mention the pranks the former likes to pull! - and Pullman commenting on what it was like to work with his Welsh co-stars on the project. When asked about if the show could become fully "American" in later (potential!) series, Davies indicated that he'd want Torchwood to remain Welsh at its heart.

Highlights from the Q&A are expected to be available to watch on the BFI website from next week.

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Prior to the screening, the press were able to chat to the stars about the show, and the BBC have published an article including a video interview featuring Barrowman, Myles, Pullman and Davies discussing their thoughts on making a new, co-funded series in America.

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Bill Pullman appeared on BBC's Breakfast this morning, discussing the development (and name!) of his character, and also on what he thought of Russell T Davies:

Davies himself can be heard discussing how he took the show from Wales to Los Angeles tonight on Front Row (BBC Radio 4) from 7:15pm.