Dalek films soundtrack: Limited 7" vinyl

Monday, 4 April 2011 - Reported by Harry Ward
As part of Record Store Day on April the 16th 2011, Silva Screen have made available an exclusive limited 7" vinyl release of the soundtracks from the 1960's Dalek films, Dr. Who and the Daleks and Daleks – Invasion Earth: 2150 A.D.. The CD version, featuring the restored soundtracks was released in October 2009.


7" ltd to 500 copies blue vinyl worldwide. A glorious 7" 33rpm EP taken from the Soundtracks of the two 1960's Dr Who films : Dr. Who And The Daleks and Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150!! Featuring two tracks from the Malcolm Lockyear score to Dr. Who And The Daleks, Main Theme and Mountain - two slabs of groovy 60's beat music, lush strings and twangy guitars all round! - PLUS an EXCLUSIVE mini adventure story version of the Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 movie that has been especially created just for this EP- it stars the voice of Peter Cushing and of course The Daleks can be heard exterminating everything in their path!!

The soundtrack will be available to buy from your local record shop. See list of participating stores.





FILTER: - Music - Merchandise

Andrew Skilleter Website

Wednesday, 30 March 2011 - Reported by Marcus
The artist Andrew Skilleter has launched a new website featuring much of his work on the Doctor Who range during the eighties and nineties.

Skilleter is best known for his prolific body of work on the Doctor Who Target range. Over a fifteen year period he provided cover artwork for around forty nine of the novelizations as well as working on feature books, video releases, calenders and prints.

In 1983 he designed the Radio Times cover for the Twentieth anniversary story The Five Doctors, the image also being used for the video release.

Away from Doctor Who he is an official Star Wars artist and provided a substantial body of work for Gerry Anderson creations, including Thunderbirds. The site features some of Skilleter's work in the new Fantasy, Sc-Fi, Narnia and Ruth Rendell galleries.

The website was set up by Skilleter in December 2010 and contains links to a calendar and archival prints of some of the many Target book covers as well as a section where you can buy original artwork.

andrewskilleter.com

You can also become a fan of Andrew Skilleter on Facebook.



Andrew Skilleter showreel, via YouTube




FILTER: - Merchandise - Classic Series

Merchandise roundup

Tuesday, 29 March 2011 - Reported by Harry Ward
Two new Maxi Busts have been added to the Doctor Who Masterpiece Collection range by Titan Merchandise plus there are two new Forbidden Planet exclusive Doctor Who costumes t-shirts and new additions to the Dalek action figure collectors set.
Doctor Who Masterpiece Collection Maxi Busts
These are beautifully-sculpted 8" Polystone maxi-busts

  • These beautifully-sculpted 8" maxi-busts capture Tom Baker's scarf-bedecked fourth Doctor at his mysterious, mercurial, enigmatic best (Release date: 16 October 2011); David Tennant's tenth Doctor in all his slender, sharp-suited dynamic glory (Release date: 26 September 2011) and Jon Pertwee's flamboyant third Doctor incarnation in his velvet-jacketed, bouffant-haired glory. (Sculpt subject to approval)
  • From the Earthshock story line, there is a beautifully-sculpted 8" maxi-bust of the classic Cyberman design which captures one of the Doctor's most notorious arch-enemies in all his heartless semi-robotic glory. (Release date: 30 July 2011) From the classic Blink episode, the maxi-bust of a Weeping Angel captures every detail of the Tenth Doctor's stone nemesis. (Sculpt subject to approval)
The busts of the eleventh Doctor, Amy Pond and Captain Jack Harkness will be released this summer.
Doctor Who Costume T-shirts (Forbidden Planet Exclusives)
Get started in the fashion stakes with this fantastic Forbidden Planet Exclusive T-Shirt designed to commemorate the Timelord's iconic outfit!
  • The whimsical seventh Doctor's wonderful waistcoat and the sixth Doctor's patchwork coat, cat pin and question mark lapels an be yours with these amazing printed t-shirts! (Pending license approval & subject to change)
  • the fifth Doctor's cream-coloured frock coat, cricket jumper and iconic question mark lapels, and the fourth Doctor's waistcoat, frock coat, and, most famously, his amazing multicoloured scarf t-shirts are out now!
Dalek Action Figure Collectors Set
Only available for sale in the UK and Ireland.
  • The Genesis set includes Davros and 2 variant Daleks along with the fourth Doctor in his dufflecoat. - Release date: 15 April 2011
  • The Destiny set includes the fourth Doctor, Davros, and two Gray Daleks variants. - Release date: 16 May 2011
  • The Revelation includes Davros, a Necros Dalek, a Skaro Dalek and the sixth Doctor in his blue mourning cloak. - Release date: 05 April 2011

The Resurrection and Remembrance sets are available to buy now.
(6th Doctor action figure photo courtesy of Luke Williams)




FILTER: - Merchandise - Character

BBC Books: Classic Novelisation reprints

Friday, 18 March 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster
BBC Books are to launch a range of classic novelisations from this July, with the republication of several books from the original Target range of the 1970s - the only way for fans to visit the old adventures of the Doctors in the days before video and DVD!

The series kicks off with six novelisations, using their original cover designs by artist Chris Achilleos and inside illustrations, with a new introduction especially written for each book by a well-known Doctor Who fan/writer.

Doctor Who and The Daleks (available for pre-order)
by David Whitaker
with introduction by Neil Gaiman

The mysterious Doctor and his granddaughter Susan are joined by unwilling adventurers Ian Chesterton and Barbara Wright in an epic struggle for survival on an alien planet.

In a vast metal city they discover the survivors of a terrible nuclear war – the Daleks. Held captive in the deepest levels of the city, can the Doctor and his new companions stop the Daleks’ plan to totally exterminate their mortal enemies, the peace-loving Thals? More importantly, even if they can escape from the Daleks, will Ian and Barbara ever see their home planet Earth again?

This novel is based on the second Doctor Who story which was originally broadcast from 21 December 1963 – 1 February 1964. Featuring the First Doctor as played by William Hartnell, and his companions Susan, Ian and Barbara.


The novelisation was originally published by Target in May 1973; it is also available to listen to from BBC AudioGo in the boxed set Travels in Time and Space on CD, read by William Russell.
Doctor Who and The Crusaders (available for pre-order)
by David Whitaker
with introduction by Charlie Higson

Arriving in the Holy Land in the middle of the Third Crusade, the Doctor and his companions run straight into trouble. The Doctor and Vicki befriend Richard the Lionheart, but must survive the cut-throat politics of the English court. Even with the king on their side, they find they have made powerful enemies.

Looking for Barbara, Ian is ambushed – staked out in the sand and daubed with honey so that the ants will eat him. With Ian unable to help, Barbara is captured by the cruel warlord El Akir. Even if Ian escapes and rescues her, will they ever see the Doctor, Vicki and the TARDIS again?

This novel is based on a Doctor Who story which was originally broadcast from 27 March – 17 April 1965. Featuring the First Doctor as played by William Hartnell, and his companions Ian, Barbara, and Vicki.


The novelisation was originally published by Target in May 1973; it is also available to listen to from BBC AudioGo in the boxed set Travels in Time and Space on CD, read by William Russell.
Doctor Who and The Cybermen (available for pre-order)
by Gerry Davis
with introduction by Gareth Roberts

In 2070, the Earth’s weather is controlled from a base on the moon. But when the Doctor and his friends arrive, all is not well. They discover unexplained drops of air pressure, minor problems with the weather control systems, and an outbreak of a mysterious plague.

With Jamie injured, and members of the crew going missing, the Doctor realises that the moonbase is under attack. Some malevolent force is infecting the crew and sabotaging the systems as a prelude to an invasion of Earth. And the Doctor thinks he knows who is behind it: the Cybermen.

This novel is based on ‘The Moonbase’, a Doctor Who story which was originally broadcast from 11 February–4 March 1967. Featuring the Second Doctor as played by Patrick Troughton, and his companions Polly, Ben and Jamie.


The novelisation was originally published by Target in February 1975; it is also available to listen to from BBC AudioGo on CD, read by Anneke Wills.
Doctor Who and The Abominable Snowmen (available for pre-order)
by Terrance Dicks
with introduction by Stephen Baxter

The Doctor has been to Det-Sen Monastery before, and expects the welcome of a life time. But the monastery is a very different place from when the Doctor last came. Fearing at attack at any moment by the legendary Yeti, the monks are prepared to defend themselves, and see the Doctor as a threat.

The Doctor and his friends join forces with Travers, an English explorer out to prove the existence of the elusive abominable snowmen. But they soon discover that these Yeti are not the timid animals that Travers seeks. They are the unstoppable servants of an alien Intelligence.

This novel is based on a Doctor Who story which was originally broadcast from 30 September – 4 November 1967. Featuring the Second Doctor as played by Patrick Troughton, and his companions Jamie and Victoria.


The novelisation was originally published by Target in November 1974; it is also available to listen to from BBC AudioGo on CD, read by David Troughton.
Doctor Who and The Auton Invasion (available for pre-order)
by Terrance Dicks
with introduction by Russell T Davies

Put on trial by the Time Lords, and found guilty of interfering in the affairs of other worlds, the Doctor is exiled to Earth in the 20th century, his appearance once again changed. His arrival coincides with a meteorite shower. But these are no ordinary meteorites.

The Nestene Consciousness has begun its first attempt to invade Earth using killer Autons and deadly shop window dummies. Only the Doctor and UNIT can stop the attack. But the Doctor is recovering in hospital, and his old friend the Brigadier doesn’t even recognise him. Can the Doctor recover and win UNIT’s trust before the invasion begins?

This novel is based on ‘Spearhead from Space’, a Doctor Who story which was originally broadcast from 3 – 24 January 1970. Featuring the Third Doctor as played by Jon Pertwee, and his companion Liz Shaw and the UNIT organisation commanded by Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart.


The novelisation was originally published by Target in January 1974; it is also available to listen to from BBC AudioGo on CD, read by Caroline John.
Doctor Who and The Cave Monsters (available for pre-order)
by Malcolm Hulke
with introduction by Terrance Dicks

UNIT are called in to investigate security at a secret research centre buried under Wenley Moor. Unknown to the Doctor and his colleagues, the work at the centre has woken a group of Silurians – intelligent reptiles that used to be the dominant life form on Earth in prehistoric times.

Now they have woken, the Silurians are appalled to find ‘their’ planet populated by upstart apes. The Doctor hopes to negotiate a peace deal, but there are those on both sides who cannot bear the thought of humans and Silurians living together. As UNIT soldiers enters the cave systems, and the Silurians unleash a deadly plague that could wipe out the human race, the battle for planet Earth begins.

This novel is based on ‘The Silurians’, a Doctor Who story which was originally broadcast from 31 January – 14 March 1970. Featuring the Third Doctor as played by Jon Pertwee, and his companion Liz Shaw and the UNIT organisation commanded by Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart.


The novelisation was originally published by Target in January 1974; it is also available to listen to from BBC AudioGo on CD, read by Caroline John.

The books are due to be published on 7th July.




FILTER: - Merchandise - Books

BBC Books: Eleventh Doctor releases

Friday, 18 March 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster
The latest in the BBC Books range of Doctor Who novels following the adventures of the Eleventh Doctor and his companions are due for release on the 28th April 2011:

Doctor Who: Dead of Winter (available for pre-order)
by James Goss

"The Dead are not alone. There is something in the mist and it talks to them."

In a remote clinic in 18th-century Italy, a lonely girl writes to her mother. She tells of pale English aristocrats and mysterious Russian nobles. She tells of intrigues and secrets, and strange faceless figures that rise from the sea. And she tells about the enigmatic Mrs Pond, who arrives with her husband and her physician.

What she doesn’t tell her mother is the truth that everyone knows and no one says – that the only people who come here do so to die.

A thrilling, all-new adventure featuring the Doctor, Amy and Rory, as played by Matt Smith, Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill in the spectacular hit series from BBC Television.
Doctor Who: The Way Through the Woods (available for pre-order)
by Una McCormack

"As long as people have lived here, they've gone out of their way to avoid the woods..."

Two teenage girls disappear into an ancient wood, a foreboding and malevolent presence both now and in the past. The modern motorway bends to avoid it, as did the old Roman road. In 1917 the Doctor and Amy are desperate to find out what’s happened to Rory, who’s vanished too.

But something is waiting for them in the woods. Something that’s been there for thousands of years. Something that is now waking up.

A thrilling, all-new adventure featuring the Doctor, Amy and Rory, as played by Matt Smith, Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill in the spectacular hit series from BBC Television.
Doctor Who: Hunter's Moon (available for pre-order)
by Paul Finch

"There's no end to the horror in this place - it's like Hell, and there are devils round every corner."

On Leisure Platform 9 gamblers and villains mix with socialites and celebrities. It’s a place where you won’t want to win the wrong game.

With Rory kidnapped by a brutal crime lord, the Doctor and Amy infiltrate a deadly contest where fugitives become the hunted. But how long before they realise the Doctor isn’t a vicious mercenary and discover what Amy is up to? It’s a game that can only end in death, and time for everyone is running out.

A thrilling, all-new adventure featuring the Doctor, Amy and Rory, as played by Matt Smith, Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill in the spectacular hit series from BBC Television.

In addition, the 12th May will see a new book released dedicated to the Doctor's greatest foe:

The Dalek Handbook (available for pre-order)
by Steve Tribe and James Goss

Daleks!

The Dalek Handbook is your complete guide to the Doctor’s greatest enemies. It explores the Daleks’ origins on the planet Skaro, how a Time Lord intervention altered the course of Dalek history, and how they emerged to wage war on Thals, Mechonoids, Draconians and humans. It also reveals the secrets of Dalek design, the development of their iconic look and sound, and their enduring appeal on and off the screen.

With artwork and photographs from six decades of Doctor Who, The Dalek Handbook is the ultimate celebration of all things Dalek.

Exterminate!




FILTER: - Merchandise - Books

The Crack - Qwertee T-Shirt Offer

Sunday, 27 February 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Europe's largest daily T-Shirt website Qwertee have launched a new Doctor Who inspired design, featuring the Doctor and Amy peering through the Crack. It was created by animator Billy Allison, who said: "an idea I thought of while watching Dr Who ... why don't they just have a look inside? I thought, maybe not a good idea but still :D"

This is a limited edition print which will only be available to purchase for three days (i.e. until 11:00pm Wednesday 1st March).

Readers of Doctor Who News will be able to take advantage of a special 50p/50c discount off the usual £8/€10/$13.50 price of the t-shirt - simply enter this promotional code when ordering:
 
TheDoctorWhoNewsPage

The t-shirt can be ordered from the Qwertee website.




When it comes to the world of online t-shirt stores Qwertee.com is a little bit different in that we are the UK and indeed Europe’s first daily t shirt store. Qwertee is very simple: we sell one t shirt, for one day only, for one incredible price. Every day at 11pm we put a new tee on sale for 24 hours only (or less if it sells out) for the amazing price of £8/€10/about $13. Our shirts are about as limited edition as you could imagine: after 24 hours they are gone from Qwertee forever, never to return again. So if you see a tee you like you need to act fast before it is too late!

We work with some of the finest artists/designers both local and international to bring you an amazing new design every day of the year. But rather than deciding what to print ourselves, it is the Qwertee community members that decide what we print. Artists submit their designs, Qwertee users vote for what they like and the most popular designs are printed and put on sale for 24 hours. The artist then gets paid a €1 commission for every shirt that sells. We welcome all kinds of designs on Qwertee: from funny, pop culture and parody to more serious artwork. Qwertee want to offer something for everybody and with the shirt a day system, the next design is never far away, so you’ll always find something that suits you.

Though our shirts cost a mere £8/€10 (less if you use our discount codes) they are ethically produced, made of supersoft 100% ringspun cotton and are hand printed locally in the UK/Ireland. They also feature screen printed tags and are shipped in environmentally friendly 100% degradable bags. These are the kind of features you’d normally associate with much more expensive tees but it is just a small part of Qwertee’s commitment to providing you with a great quality product at a ridiculously low price. We ship to everywhere in the world and our shipping rates (from €1.35 with €3 worldwide delivery) are the best around.

As well as our commitment to amazing tees we also aim to provide the best service of anywhere you have ever shopped, online or otherwise. When it comes to customer service, we will do whatever it takes to make sure you are happy. We provide you with detailed sizing charts and comparisons with popular brands to make sure you get a great fitting shirt. We offer free returns and will reply to your emails within 24 hours or less, even at the weekends.

Finally we like to think of Qwertee as being one of the friendliest online communities so whether you want to check out today’s design, talk about tees or anything else in our forums, or just drop by to have a look around, you’ll be made very welcome at Qwertee.com. See you soon!




FILTER: - Merchandise - Special Offers

Patrick Troughton biography

Wednesday, 9 February 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Hirst Publishing have provided details on their forthcoming publication of a biography on the actor Patrick Troughton, who played the Second Doctor. The book has been written by his son, Michael Troughton.


Book Cover

Author Michael Troughton
A long overdue biography of the second Doctor Patrick Troughton is in preparation. The actor’s son Michael is writing the book, due for release in November.

Publisher Tim Hirst says “Michael’s research is comprehensive and meticulous and his enthusiasm for the project is contagious! This book will be a real treat for Doctor Who fans.” Patrick Troughton had many film and TV roles, before and after his three years as the Doctor, and was also a Commander in the Royal Navy during the Second World War.

Michael Troughton, known to UK TV viewers as Piers Fletcher Dervish in the classic Rik Mayall comedy The New Statesman, contributed two fondly remembered articles to DWM some years back, in which he discussed growing up with Patrick.
 

The book will be in hard-back, and is available for pre-order from Hirst Publishing's website.





FILTER: - Merchandise - Books - Patrick Troughton

A Christmas Carol - Soundtrack details

Thursday, 3 February 2011 - Reported by Harry Ward
Silva Screen have released the cover art and tracklisting for the soundtrack to A Christmas Carol. The album was originally due to be released in the UK on 21 February but has now been delayed until 21 March.

1. Come Along Pond
2 .Halfway out of the Dark
3. Pray for a Miracle
4. Geoff
5. You Didn't Hit the Boy
6. Fish
7. Kazran Sardick 12 1/2
8. Ghost of Christmas Past
9. Babysitter
10. Talk About Girls
11. Sonic Fishing
12. Just a Little One
13. Big Colour
14. I Can't Save Her
15. The Other Half's Inside the Shark
16. Abigail
17. He comes every Christmas
18. Shark Ride
19. New Memories
20. Holding Hands
21. Christmas Dinner
22. Goodlucknight
23. Goodnight Abigail
24. This Planet Is Ours
25. Ghost of Christmas Present
26. The Course of my Life
27. Ghost of Christmas Future
28. Abigail's Song (Silence is all you Know), (performed by Katherine Jenkins)
29. Everything Has to End Some Time

The music is composed by now Doctor Who composer of choice Murray Gold and performed by the excellent BBC National Orchestra of Wales and Crouch End Festival Chorus. The album will be released both physically (SILCD1360) and digitally (SILED1360). The TV episode was broadcast on Christmas Day at 6pm and featured Matt Smith as The Doctor, Karen Gillan as Amy Pond and Arthur Darvill as Rory Williams. They were joined by Michael Gambon as Kazran Sardick and Katherine Jenkins as Abigail Pettigrew.





FILTER: - Music - Murray Gold - Merchandise - Doctor Who - Series 6/32

Ride-in Daleks to be unleashed!

Thursday, 27 January 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Back in the seventies, kids in the UK could often find the chance to be a "Dalek" when visiting the seaside! Though these old Edwin Hall rides have long-since been exterminated from holiday venues, 2011 looks set to give our own children the chance to unleash their own mastery of the universe ...

Welsh toy company Kids@Play have announced the launch of a new Ride-in Dalek toy for children! The toy is aimed for three to six year olds (maximum weight of 30kg).

Using a unique and patented concept of an inflatable body attached to a high density plastic base, the Kids@Play innovative design team have come up with a safe, strong and exciting toy which meets all the new essential safety standards.

The Dalek body is made from a mixture of ballistic nylon/laminated rubberised polyvinyl which is soft and tactile to the touch. This makes the Ride-in very durable, structurally safe, tear resistant and easy to inflate and assemble. The Dalek has a 6v battery powered motor which gives 360 degree steering and a maximum speed of 3km per hour. The battery is re-chargeable and comes complete with country specific charger. The steering wheel has 10 authentic Dalek phrases that are button activated. The ride-in comes with flashing lights for an atmospheric glow, giving the child the maximum realistic feeling of being in the Dalek and moving around like a Dalek.

The Ride-in is surrounded by a soft bumper to protect furniture and is suitable for both indoors and outdoors activity (providing there is a flat surface), and comes in two parts – a motorised base and inflatable body section.

BBC Worldwide says "we have always dreamed of developing a Ride-in toy Dalek, but no-one had previously been able to achieve this for us. We are so excited by the Kids@Play project; this will be an industry first for us".
A video has been released to promote the toys, which also feature at the Nuremberg Toy Fair (3rd February 2011).


(video via Kids@Play on YouTube)


The Ride-in Daleks will be exclusively distributed in the UK through Zappies, and are due to be on sale in shops like Forbidden Planet during the summer (RRP £199).



You can see one of the old Edwin Hall Dalek rides in operation in this You-Tube video!




FILTER: - Merchandise

Character Sets - More Details

Thursday, 27 January 2011 - Reported by Marcus
NTAMore details have emerged on the new set of Doctor Who Characters available this spring from Character Building.

Chris Elmer from the website Active Dad got a chance to play with the Characters at the 2011 London Toy Fair held at the Olympia Exhibition Centre in London.

Fans of the classic series will be delighted that each of the eleven incarnations of the Doctor is represented in toy form along with vast armies of Daleks, Cybermen and Weeping Angels.

Building sets featuring scenes from the series include the TARDIS Console Room Playset, the TARDIS Mini Set, the Cybermen Conversion Chamber Set, the Dalek Factory Set and the Time of Angles Mini Set .

The sets are not connected to LEGO, although the bricks and characters do fit together.

For more infomation check out ActiveDad.co.uk which also has a review of other Doctor Who Merchandise available at the Fair.




FILTER: - Merchandise - Doctor Who - Character