Big Finish: special offer on Zoe's Memory

Friday, 8 March 2013 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Big Finish are running a special offer on the "Memory" Trilogy of Companion Chronicles, which feature Wendy Padbury reprising her role as Zoe Herriot. Echoes of Grey, The Memory Cheats and The Uncertainty Principle are all available at discounted prices for this weekend only. For full details see the Big Finish website.

The Companion Chronicles: Echoes of Grey (Credit: Big Finish) The Companion Chronicles: The Memory Cheats (Credit: Big Finish) The Companion Chronicles: The Uncertainty Principle (Credit: Big Finish)




FILTER: - Merchandise - Audio - Special Offers - Big Finish

BBC Books re-issue eleven novels for 50th Anniversary

Friday, 8 March 2013 - Reported by Chuck Foster
BBC Books Eleven Doctors Collection (Credit: BBC)BBC Worldwide have announced the re-issue of eleven books featuring all eleven Doctors as part of the celebration of Doctor Who's 50th Anniversary, each featuring a new cover and special introduction.

The books hail from various periods in the history of Doctor Who in print, and feature a variety of well-known authors:
  • The First Doctor: Ten Little Aliens, by Stephen Cole (2002)
  • The Second Doctor: Dreams of Empire, by Justin Richards (1998)
  • The Third Doctor: Last of the Gaderene, by Mark Gatiss (2000)
  • The Fourth Doctor: Festival of Death, by Jonathan Morris (2000)
  • The Fifth Doctor: Fear of the Dark, by Trevor Baxendale (2003)
  • The Sixth Doctor: Players, by Terrance Dicks (1999)
  • The Seventh Doctor: Remembrance of the Daleks, by Ben Aaronovitch (1990)
  • The Eighth Doctor: Earthworld, by Jacqueline Rayner (2001)
  • The Ninth Doctor: Only Human, by Gareth Roberts (2005)
  • The Tenth Doctor: Beautiful Chaos, by Gary Russell (2008)
  • The Eleventh Doctor: The Silent Stars Go By, by Dan Abnett (2011)
 
Ten Little Aliens, written by Stephen Cole (Credit: BBC)Ten Little Aliens (available to order)
Written by Stephen Cole

Deep in the heart of a hollowed-out moon the First Doctor finds a chilling secret: ten alien corpses, frozen in time at the moment of their death. They are the empire’s most wanted terrorists, and their discovery could end a war devastating the galaxy. But is the same force that killed them still lurking in the dark? And what are its plans for the people of Earth?
 
Dreams of Empire, written by Justin Richards (Credit: BBC)Dreams of Empire (available to order)
Written by Justin Richards

On a barren asteroid, the once-mighty Haddron Empire is on the brink of collapse, torn apart by civil war. The one man who might have saved it languishes
in prison, his enemies planning his death and his friends plotting his escape. The Second Doctor arrives as the last act of this deadly drama is being played out – and with both terrifying killers and cunning traitors to defeat, the future hangs in the balance.
 
Last of the Gaderene, written by Mark Gatiss (Credit: BBC)Last of the Gaderene (available to order)
Written by Mark Gatiss

The aerodrome in Culverton has new owners, and they promise an era of prosperity for the idyllic village. But former Spitfire pilot Alex Whistler is suspicious – when black-shirted troops appear on the streets, he contacts his
old friend Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart at UNIT. The Third Doctor is sent to investigate – and soon uncovers a sinister plot to colonise the Earth. The Gaderene are on their way...
 
Festival of Death, written by Jonathan MorrisFestival of Death (available to order)
Written by Jonathan Morris

The Beautiful Death is the ultimate theme-park ride: a sightseeing tour of the afterlife. But something has gone wrong, and when the Fourth Doctor arrives in the aftermath of the disaster, he is congratulated for saving the population from destruction – something he hasn’t actually done yet. He has no choice but to travel back in time and discover how he became a hero. And then he finds out. He did it by sacrificing his life.
 
Fear of the Dark, written by Trevor BaxendaleFear of the Dark (available to order)
Written by Trevor Baxendale

On a moon of the ruined planet Akoshemon, an age-old terror is about to be reborn. Something that remembers the spiral of war, pestilence and deprivation – and rejoices in it. The Fifth Doctor joins a team of archaeologists searching for evidence of the planet’s infamous past, and uncovers more than just ancient history. Forced to confront his own worst fears, even the Doctor will be pushed to breaking point – and beyond.
 
Players, written by Terrance Dicks (Credit: BBC)Players (available to order)
Written by Terrance Dicks

Arriving on the sun-baked veldt in the middle of the Boer War, the Sixth Doctor is soon involved in the adventures of struggling politician and war correspondent Winston Churchill. Of course, he knows Churchill is destined for great things, but unseen forces seem to be interfering with Winston’s historic career... The Doctor suspects the hidden hand of the Players, mysterious beings who regard human history as little more than a game. With time running out, can the Doctor find the right moves to defeat them?
 
Remembrance of the Daleks, written by Ben Aaronovitch (Credit: BBC)Remembrance of the Daleks (available to order)
Written by Ben Aaronovitch

With unfinished business to attend to, the Seventh Doctor returns to where it all began: Coal Hill School in London in 1963. Last time he was here, the Doctor left something behind – a powerful Time Lord artefact that could unlock the secrets of time travel. Can the Doctor retrieve it before two rival factions of Daleks track it down? And even if he can, how will the Doctor prevent the whole of London becoming a war zone as the Daleks meet in explosive confrontation?
 
Earthworld, by Jacqueline Rayner (Credit: BBC)Earthworld (available to order)
Written by Jacqueline Rayner

Anji has just had the worst week of her life. She should be back at her desk, not travelling through time and space in a police box. The Eighth Doctor is supposed to be taking her home, so why are there dinosaurs outside? The Doctor doesn’t seem to know either, or else he surely would have mentioned the homicidal princesses, teen terrorists and mad robots? One thing is certain: Anji is never going to com- plain about Monday mornings in the office again.
 
Only Human, written by Gareth Roberts (Credit: BBC)Only Human (available to order)
Written by Gareth Roberts

Reports of a time disturbance lead the Ninth Doctor to modern-day London, where he discovers a Neanderthal Man, twenty-eight thousand years after his race became extinct. A trip back to the dawn of humanity only deepens the mystery: who are these strange humans from the far future now living in the distant past? The Doctor must learn the truth about the Osterberg experiment before history is changed forever.
 
Beautiful Chaos, written by Gary Russell (Credit: BBC)Beautiful Chaos (available to order)
Written by Gary Russell

Wilfred Mott is very happy: his granddaughter, Donna, is back home, catching up with family and gossiping about her journeys, and he has just discovered a new star and had it named after him. He takes the Tenth Doctor with him to the naming ceremony. But the Doctor soon discovers something else new, and worryingly bright, in the heavens – something that is heading for Earth. It’s an ancient force from the Dark Times. And it is very, very angry...
 
The Silent Stars Go By. written by Dan Abnett (Credit: BBC)The Silent Stars Go By (available to order)
Written by Dan Abnett

The winter festival is approaching for the hardy colony of Morphans, but no one is in the mood to celebrate. They’re trying to build a new life on a cold new world, but each year gets harder and harder. It’s almost as if some dark force is working against them. Then three mysterious travelers arrive out of the midwinter night, one of them claiming to be a doctor. Are they bringing the gift of salvation or doom? And what else might be lurking out there, about to wake up?
 




FILTER: - Merchandise - Eighth Doctor - Books - Eleventh Doctor - WHO50 - Fifth Doctor - Tenth Doctor

Mind Of Evil To Be Screened At Festival

Friday, 8 March 2013 - Reported by John Bowman
A screening of the colour-restored story The Mind of Evil is to take place in Birmingham.

The event – part of the Flatpack Festival – will also see Restoration Team members Peter Crocker and Steve Roberts discussing with Paul Vanezis the meticulous work that was involved in bringing the six-part adventure back to its former glory.

The showing, presented in association with the Shock and Gore horror and fantasy festival, will be held at The Electric Cinema in Station Street on Saturday 30th March, starting at 1pm and finishing at 4pm.

It offers fresh hope of a pre-DVD-release big-screen viewing for people who were unable to get tickets to this coming Sunday’s BFI première screening in London, which sold out to members before going on public release - although returns are possible.
With Thanks To Tony Clark




FILTER: - Special Events - Third Doctor

Doctor Who Adventures 310

Thursday, 7 March 2013 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Doctor Who Adventures 310The new issue of Doctor Who Adventures is out now, and this week takes a look at the TARDIS, providing all the facts you need about the Doctor's "home".

Also in this issue:
  • The story of Commander Strax, presented as a photo story.
  • A Silence quiz to test your memory.
  • Doggy doubles.
  • The comic strip sees the Doctor and Decky Flamboon visiting a strange alien world – but can they stay out of trouble this time?

This week's issue comes with a build-your-own Dalek kit.




FILTER: - Merchandise - Magazines - DWA

Doctor Who Magazine 458

Thursday, 7 March 2013 - Reported by Harry Ward
Doctor Who Magazine Issue 458 The latest issue of Doctor Who Magazine hit the shops today and features some sneak peeks of the upcoming Series 7B stories plus Steven Moffat reveals what trouble lies ahead for the Doctor and Clara in The Bells of St John.
It’s the traditional Doctor Who thing of taking something omnipresent in your life and making it sinister, if something did get in the Wi-Fi, we’d be kind of screwed. Nobody had really done it before, so I thought, ‘It’s time to get kids frightened of Wi-Fi!

Also in this issue:
  • He was the Doctor! – In the second part of DWM’s previously unpublished interview with Jon Pertwee, conducted a year before his death in 1996, the actor who played the Third Doctor reveals his thoughts on his departure from Doctor Who, the untimely death of Master actor Roger Delgado, and his relationship with the show and its fans in later years.
  • Craig A Tur!Frazer Hines recalls his adventures in time and space in the 60s series as kilt-wearing companion to the Second Doctor, Jamie McCrimmon – and why he wants to come back…
  • Completely Pointless! – DWM goes behind the scenes on the forthcoming Doctor Who edition of the BBC quiz show, Pointless Celebrities and talks to contestants Sylvester McCoy, Louise Jameson, Nicola Bryant, Bernard Cribbins, Frazer Hines, Sophie Aldred, John Leeson and Andrew Hayden-Smith!
  • Setting Sail In Space… – There’s trouble aboard ship as the Fifth Doctor, Tegan and Turlough take part in a race through space, and encounter a race of Eternals! Discover a wealth of fascinating facts about the last story in 1983's 'Black Guardian trilogy' as Enlightenment is put under the spotlight in The Fact of Fiction.
  • The Man Who Knows… - The big boss answers some of your most pressing Doctor Who questions in this issue’s Ask Steven Moffat – including one from one of his predecessors…
  • The Good, The Bard, and The Ugly… – Hey nonny nonny! The Tenth Doctor and Martha Jones go back to Elizabethan England and meet the most famous writer in history, as The Time Team watch The Shakespeare Code.
  • Masters Of The Hunt! – The Doctor is reunited with his old friends, Ian and Barbara, while flaming-skulled warriors cause havoc on the world of Cornucopia? The action heats up in Part Three of our epic comic-strip adventure Hunters of the Burning Stone, written by Scott Gray and illustrated by Martin Geraghty.
  • The Trip Of A Lifetime! – DWM turns back the clock to 2005 when Doctor Who made its momentous return to our TV screens, with Christopher Eccleston as the Doctor and Billie Piper as his companion, Rose Tyler. The voyage through five decades of Doctor Who with the twenty-seventh series of the show in Countdown to 50!
  • DVD Dilemmas!Jacqueline Rayner shares the ups and downs of a family in love with Doctor Who and tackles the controversial topic of how to order your DVDs on your shelf, in this issue’s Relative Dimensions.
  • A Burning Question - Wotcha! ponders just which planets in the Doctor Who universe have seas of acid in The History of Doctor Who in 100 Objects, challenges you to spot the false fact in a Shakesperian-themed Six Faces of Delusion, and consults The Stockbridge English Dictionary for some more unusual definitions.
PLUS! All the latest official news, TV and merchandise reviews, previews, a prize-winning competitions and crossword and much, much more!




FILTER: - Merchandise - Magazines - DWM

SFX 233

Thursday, 7 March 2013 - Reported by Chuck Foster
SFX Issue 233, published March 2013The latest edition of SFX magazine has just been published, and features an exclusive interview with Jenna-Louise Coleman. who plays Clara Oswald in the second half of Series 7, which kicks off on 30th March.

Talking about how the onscreen chemistry with co-star Matt Smith was developed, she said:
When I started on Doctor Who Matt said to me “Watch Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy films!” We were talking about our dynamic and trying to figure it out, realising we were a double act . . . It’s trying to find each other’s rhythm... So watching things like Spencer Tracy films really feed into that. Matt always said it’s about physically finding our rhythm... In a way the whole thing is like a dance, and the moment we started dancing together and finding that rhythm is when it worked.
The full interview is in SFX 233, in the shops now.




FILTER: - Merchandise - Magazines - Jenna-Louise Coleman

BBC announce 50th Anniversary Doctor Who Event

Thursday, 7 March 2013 - Reported by Marcus
The BBC has announced details of a special three day event to be held in London in November to celebrate 50 years of Doctor Who.

The three day Doctor Who 50th Celebration Weekend will be held at the ExCeL centre in London, beginning on Friday, 22 November with tickets for over 15,000 fans available.

More details about the event, including guests, itinerary, ticket prices and booking information will be revealed soon with fans invited to sign up to the doctorwho.tv newsletter.

Amanda Hill, Chief Brands Officer at BBC Worldwide said:
Generations of fans young and old have been captivated by the Doctor and we’ve seen Doctor Who go from strength to strength, enjoying something of a global march over the past few years attracting new followers from Turkey to Brazil to South Korea. This year long celebration is an opportunity for fans around the world to come together and celebrate the glorious past, present and future of Doctor Who.


The event follows the two day convention which took place in Cardiff last year and which saw fans get a chance to meet the current stars of the show and take a trip to the TARDIS set.

The last time the BBC celebrated an anniversary of the show with a convention was in 1983 when thousands of fans attended an event to celebrate the 20th anniversary at Longleat House in Wiltshire.




FILTER: - UK - Leading News - Conventions - WHO50

The Daemons on UKTV

Thursday, 7 March 2013 - Reported by Paul Scoones
UKTV
Sunday 10th March sees the broadcast of the five-part 1971 Jon Pertwee story The Daemons in Australia and New Zealand. The story is the tenth instalment in the 50th Anniversary season of classic Doctor Who stories on the UKTV channel.

The story is scheduled in New Zealand at 3:45pm and in Australia at 4:00pm. New Zealand has a additional screening on Monday 11th March at 3:40am.

The Daemons was first broadcast in New Zealand in 1985. The following year, Australians got to see it for the first time.

UKTV is showing stories every week throughout the year in the lead-up to the anniversary in November. The Daemons is the second in a set of four stories featuring Jon Pertwee's Doctor scheduled to screen in March. The next two stories are The Three Doctors (17th March) and Death to the Daleks (24th March). No story is scheduled on the last Sunday of this month.

Up-and-coming broadcasts from both 20th and 21st Century series of Doctor Who can be found via UKTV's Doctor Who sections  for Australia and New Zealand.





FILTER: - Classic Series - WHO50 - New Zealand - Australia

First Doctor regenerates in animation

Wednesday, 6 March 2013 - Reported by Chuck Foster
The Tenth Planet - Episode 4 Animation. Credit: BBC WorldwideBBC Worldwide have released a new clip from the forthcoming animation for episode for of The Tenth Planet, which features the original change of lead actor from William Hartnell to Patrick Troughton:

Talking about the sequence, lead animator Chris Chapman said:
We knew that we had to throw everything at this scene and in fact the whole story is historic, with the first appearance of the Cybermen, so we really worked very hard on it. It was a real pleasure. It has definitely made me a fan of Doctor Who.



The DVD is due to be released in late 2013.





FILTER: - First Doctor - Animation - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

Puffin Books:The Spear of Destiny by Marcus Sedgwick

Wednesday, 6 March 2013 - Reported by Marcus
Award winning author Marcus Sedgwick has been revealed as the author of the third instalment in Puffin’s series celebrating the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who.

Sedgwick has re imagined the Third Doctor, played by Jon Pertwee, and created a brand new Doctor Who adventure called The Spear of Destiny, to be released globally on 23rd March. The Spear of Destiny follows on from Michael Scott’s Second Doctor story, The Nameless City, and A Big Hand for the Doctor – a First Doctor adventure from Eoin Colfer.

In total there will be eleven short stories in this ebook series, each based on one of the Eleven Doctors, released on the 23rd of each month from January to November 2013. Each story is written by a different author, bringing together some of the best known names in children’s fiction.
The Spear of Destiny , by Marcus SedgwickThe Spear of Destiny
Written by Marcus Sedgwick
Published 23rd March 2013

The Third Doctor and Jo Grant are trying to track down the magical spear of Odin when they find themselves caught up in a vicious battle between two Viking tribes. But one of the Vikings is even more dangerous than he appears to be. Can the Doctor stop the spear getting into the wrong hands before it’s too late?

Marcus Sedgwick was born and raised in Kent in the South-east of England. Alongside a 16 year career in publishing he is established as a widely-admired writer of young adult fiction and winner of many prizes, most notably the Branford-Boase Award for a debut novel (Floodland), and the Booktrust Teenage Prize (My Swordhand is Singing). His books have been shortlisted for over 30 other awards, including the Carnegie Medal (four times), Edgar Allan Poe Award (twice) and Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize (four times). Talking about the new book Sedgwick said
To me, Jon Pertwee is the quintessential Doctor – a hero of both thought and action. When I was young he seemed like a schoolmaster you were a bit afraid of, and yet really liked at the same time. Bringing him back to life and pitting him against his old nemesis, The Master, was a huge thrill for me and I hope fans will recognise Jon in the pages of my story.
The authors of the subsequent eshorts will continue to be unveiled on the BBC Worldwide Doctor Who Facebook page on the first Tuesday of every month throughout the year.




FILTER: - Third Doctor - Books - WHO50