Doctor Who Adventures 5

Friday, 26 May 2006 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

Issue 5 of Doctor Who Adventures is due out next week, and we have a special early preview of the official tie-in magazine below. Click on the thumbnail for a larger version of the cover.
Issue 5 of Doctor Who Adventures hits the shelves on 31 May - and it's another action-packed adventure for Doctor Who fans.

This issue you can discover how Mickey Smith went from reluctant adventurer to freedom fighter.There's a preview of The Impossible Planet and The Satan Pit, so brace yourself for a glimpse of the seriously yucky Ood! Be prepared with the Doctor's Data - this time it's all about the scary werewolf. Make your own Moxx of Balhoon mask to scare your friends! Relive The Girl in the Fireplace and find out behind-the-scenes secrets. You can also slip sideways into a parallel world to discover how things could be very different for the Doctor if Jackie travelled with him or if K-9 was a robotic cat!

All this plus posters, puzzles and competitions and another exciting comic adventure with the Doctor and Rose.

Issue 5 comes with a fantastic TARDIS log book for readers to log their adventures in time and space! Don't miss it!




FILTER: - Magazines - DWA

Series Two Update

Friday, 26 May 2006 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

The latest issue of Doctor Who Magazine, issue 370, is out now and carries one last piece of casting news for the second series. The tenth episode,Love & Monsters, will indeed include a cameo appearance by Bella Emberg as Outpost Gallifrey reported a few days ago. Emberg has appeared in a variety of British comedy and drama since the 1960s, including Z Cars, Benny Hill and Russ Abbot, and also had two uncredited appearance in classic Doctor Who: as a nurse in Doctor Who and the Silurians (1970) and as a "kitchen hag" in The Time Warrior (1973).

The final edits have now been completed for all episodes of Series Two, according to the magazine, with work on FX shots now continuing at the Mill and Murray Gold planning a further session recording incidental music with the National Orchestra of Wales. According to producer Phil Collinson, "Everything is bang on schedule, and the whole team is delighted by the end results."

The titles of the eighth, ninth and tenth editions of Doctor Who Confidential are also revealed. The Look of Whogives "a look at how each episode varies in visual style"; Religion and Myth examines the Doctor's encounters with "mythical and religious figures"; New World of Who concentrates on "how Doctor Who's popularity has led to the casting of the biggest names in TV".

This year's Christmas special will be directed by Euros Lyn. Also, Matthew Graham, writer of "Fear Her" in Series Two and of the series Life on Mars, confirms in his DWM interview that he will be contributing another script to Series Three, "roughly in the same area of the series, Episode 10 or 11".

The second series DVD box set due this autumn should include brand new commentaries for all fourteen episodes, "with different members of the cast and crew", rather than the current "podcast" commentaries. These podcasts have been filmed by the Confidential team, although no decision has yet been taken on how to make use of the footage.

Finally, Panini's Doctor Who Storybook 2007 will be out in August and DWM lists its contents as: Cuckook Spit (Mark Gatiss); The Cat Came Back (Gareth Roberts); Once Upon a Time (Tom MacRae); Gravestone House (Justin Richards); Untitled (Robert Shearman); No One Died (Nicholas Briggs); Corner of the Eye (Steven Moffat); and a comic strip by Jonathan Morris called Opera of Doom. Artists on the book are Mike Collins, Martin Geraghty, Daryl Joyce, Alister Pearson, Adrian Salmon, Andy Walker, Brian Williamson and Ben Willsher.




FILTER: - Magazines - DWM

Sci-Fi/Fantasy Modeller

Tuesday, 23 May 2006 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

Just published is Volume Two of Sci Fi & Fantasy Modeller a 100-page "all-colour, book format genre modelling title. Of special interest to Doctor Who fans this issue is a profusely illustrated seventeen-page feature on the creation of the new series cybermen, written by Neill Gorton. From concept artwork to final suits, with many exclusive shots plus on-set photographs, Neill's article provides a comprehensive guide to the evolution of the metal monsters. Also featured this issue is a five page article written by Mike Tucker chronicling his miniature work for The Christmas Invasion special." The magazine can be ordered at their website. Below is the cover image as well as a sample page; click on each for a (slightly) larger version.




FILTER: - Magazines

Comics International

Friday, 12 May 2006 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

The latest issue of Comics International (#196) is on sale now; says the release, the magazine "bringing together the founder of Doctor Who Weekly (Dez Skinn) and former editor of Doctor Who Magazine (John Freeman) for a special overview of Doctor Who in the comics. From 1964's TV Comic featuring William Hartnell, the feature charts through all the UK and US comics and graphic novels produced up to the latest two additions, Doctor Who Adventures and Battles in Time. With a handy sidebar checklists for completists and quotes from artists, writers and editors, hopefully it's the definitive overview of the Doctor's many lives in comics." It also stated that if you can't find a copy, you can order direct from the publisher here. A thumbnail of the cover is at right. (Thanks to John Freeman)




FILTER: - Magazines

Doctor Who Adventures 4

Friday, 12 May 2006 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

Issue #4 of Doctor Who Adventures from BBC Magazines, the children's magazine for fans of the show, will be out on 17 May, and we have a preview below; click on the thumbnail for a larger version. (Thanks to Naomi at BBC Magazines)
Doctor Who Adventures #4

To celebrate the return of the metal monsters, the fourth issue of Doctor Who Adventures is a fantastic Cyberman special! There's a look at the Cybermen past, present and parallel. In an interview with the actor who plays the Cybercontroller, Paul Kasey, you'll find out, amongst other things, how Cybermen go to the toilet! You can even upgrade yourself with a cut-out Cybermask. The Doctor and Rose lose the TARDIS in an exciting new comic strip written by Alan Barnes. We preview The Age of Steel and The Idiot's Lantern, and also take a look at School Reunion. Be prepared with our cut-and-and-keep guide to the menacing Clockwork Droids. All this plus brilliant posters, puzzles and prizes. The magazine comes with a free mini radio (unless you buy your magazine in Tesco, where will get a TARDIS clock instead due to Cyber intervention...). Issue 4 is out Wednesday 17 May, priced 1.99. And prepare to be dazzled by the shiny cover!




FILTER: - Magazines - DWA

Doctor Who Magazine 370

Thursday, 11 May 2006 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

Issue #370 of Doctor Who Magazine will be released on May 25, and we have an early preview below; click on the thumbnail for a larger version of the cover. (Thanks to Tom Spilsbury/DWM)
The Age of Steel has arrived, as Doctor Who Magazine celebrates the Rise of the Cybermen...

"Metal. That was the most important thing for me," says executive producer Russell T Davies. "Metal, and specifically, steel. I banned use of the word silver, and demanded we think of them as steel. Then [production designer] Edward Thomas had been having very strong thoughts about a vaguely 1930s feel picking up on the lurking fascism of the story¹s world, the zeppelins, the class divide, those images of black and brown and silver, which wardrobe and make-up picked up on so beautifully. This then led to thoughts about Art Deco. It wasn¹t in the script, but once Edward had suggested it, we fed it back into the next drafts. Neill Gorton and his team loved that, so jumped on the idea. It also allowed us to give the whole thing a slightly retro feel, which I love on Doctor Who. It seems to carry the programme¹s history onto the screen...²

In this issue of the magazine, there's a huge behind-the-scenes look at the two-part story that reintroduces the terrible Cybermen, featuring interviews with actors Roger Lloyd Pack and Andrew Hayden Smith. Director Graeme Harper and writer Tom MacRae also give their views on bringing the iconic baddies back to life.

Also this issue, Anthony Head chats about playing the demonic Mr Finch, while DWM sneaks into Deffry Vale School, on set for School Reunion. Writer Matthew Graham reveals a few secrets about his forthcoming episode, Fear Her, as well as chatting about the success of his BBC One time-travel drama Life on Mars - and his plans to bring back Blake's 7! Meanwhile, writer Steven Moffat gives us the lowdown on his recent episode The Girl in the Fireplace, while DWM snoops around the SS Madame de Pompadour, accompanied by David Tennant, Billie Piper, Noel Clarke... and Arthur the horse!

In the comic strip the mystery deepens for the Doctor and Rose in the second part of the all-new adventure, F.A.Q. written by Tony Lee with artwork from Mike Collins.

Plus there are tantalising previews for new episodes The Idiot's Lantern, The Impossible Planet, The Satan Pit and Love & Monsters - including a first look at the Abzorbaloff!

Also this issue - there's a news report and exclusive photos from the BAFTAs; the latest news on spin-off series Torchwood; Russell T Davies tells the story of how Sound Men came to his rescue in Production Notes; previews of the new Inferno DVD and the latest release from Big Finish Productions; reviews of New Earth and Tooth and Claw in After Image; and the Third Doctor and Jo Grant answer readers' questions in Matrix Data Bank. Jehosophat!

Is that still not enough for you? Well how about a free giant A1 double-sided poster featuring a Cyberman on one side, and the Doctor and Rose on the other?

DWM 370 goes on sale from Thursday 25 May 2006, priced 3.99. It's a steel! (Arf)




FILTER: - Russell T Davies - Magazines - DWM

Radio Times Covers

Wednesday, 10 May 2006 - Reported by Shaun Lyon


The latest issue of Radio Times in the UK features a new Doctor Who cover, that of a new Cyberman model from the forthcoming two-parter "Rise of the Cybermen" and "The Age of Steel" starting this weekend. Click on the thumbnail below left for a larger version of the cover. The issue is out as of yesterday. We've also received the cover of a special Radio Times sticker promotion which they will be featuring within the magazine; says the promo piece, "there will be a free Merlin Doctor Who sticker album which includes an exclusive 12-sticker poster and a sheet of stickers. Three subsequent issues of the magazine will include sticker packets - sufficient to complete the poster and to start any Doctor Who fans' own sticker collection." Click on the thumbnail below right for a larger version of the sticker album.




FILTER: - Magazines - Series 2/28 - Radio Times

The Glorious Dead

Wednesday, 3 May 2006 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
Posted By Shaun Lyon
The publishers of Doctor Who Magazine will soon release The Glorious Dead, volume two of their collections of Eighth Doctor comic strips as published in the magazine. The press release is below and there's a thumbnail of the cover at right; click on it for a larger version. (Thanks to Clay Hickman/DWM)
Doctor Who: The Glorious Dead
(The Complete Eighth Doctor Comic Strips - Volume 2)

The Eighth Doctor faces new perils in this bumper collection of classic comic adventures!

This volume features eight amazing stories from the pages of DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE: THE FALLEN, UNNATURAL BORN KILLERS, THE ROAD TO HELL, THE COMPANY OF THIEVES, THE GLORIOUS DEAD, THE AUTONOMY BUG, HAPPY DEATHDAY and TV ACTION!

The Doctor and his best friend Izzy are joined in the TARDIS by Kroton, a Cyberman with a heart and soul! The action comes faster than ever as our heroes encounter genocidal Sontarans, vicious space pirates, demented robots, mad gods, deadly samurai warriors... and the actor Tom Baker!

But the ultimate challenge is approaching; an epic, star-spanning battle that will decide the fate of all reality! An old friend is waiting to be reunited with the Doctor, while an even older enemy is lurking in the shadows of time and space...

PLUS two bonus stories from the early days of Doctor Who Weekly, THROWBACK: THE SOUL OF A CYBERMAN and SHIP OF FOOLS, telling the origins of Kroton the Cyberman! AND a special six-page behind-the-scenes feature where writers Scott Gray, Alan Barnes and Adrian Salmon reveal background information on the stories¹ origins, alongside never-before-seen sketches and character designs from Salmon and fellow artists Martin Geraghty and Roger Langridge!

Released late May/early June 2006, 244 pages, black and white softcover, full colour cover.




FILTER: - Magazines - DWM

Doctor Who Adventures #3

Friday, 28 April 2006 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

Issue #3 of Doctor Who Adventures will be released on 3 May 2006. The press release for the new issue is as follows: "Doctor Who Adventures goes on sale on 3 May - and it's another big adventure for readers! Find out everything you need to know about K-9 and Sarah Jane Smith. There's an explosive comic strip set on a volcanic island. We preview The Girl in the Fireplace and Rise of the Cybermen, and take a look at the spooky Tooth and Claw. We interview the man behind the Dalek voices, Nicholas Briggs. Tales from the TARDIS is all about our favourite Jackie moments. Discover more about the TARDIS in a cut-out-and-keep Doctor's Data section... and if that's not enough, you can even build your own model K-9! All this, plus puzzles, posters and competitions - and a free TARDIS alarm clock on the cover!" The cover illustration is at right; click on the thumbnail for a larger version. (Thanks to Lynsay Brown/BBC Magazines)




FILTER: - Magazines - DWA

Series Three Writers Announced

Thursday, 27 April 2006 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

The new issue of "Doctor Who Magazine" (#369) announces much of the third series writing team. Russell T Davies will himself write the 2006 Christmas special, the first episode of the season and "three or four more" episodes, while he also confirms that the script written by Stephen Fry for this season and announced as moved to next year will be produced then. Four new names have now been confirmed as well for the third series, including two from previous seasons:Steven Moffat ("The Empty Child," "The Doctor Dances," "The Girl in the Fireplace") will return with "an idea which [he] came up with way back in the planning of Series One" to write "at least another 45 minutes", which he guarantees "will not be as good as 'The Empty Child'"; and Paul Cornell ("Father's Day") is contributing a two-parter story. There are also two new names for the season: the author of several DWM comic strips, a Ninth Doctor BBC novel, BBCi's 'Attack of the Graske' and this year's Tardisodes, Gareth Roberts, will write one episode, while new series script editor and writer for the Torchwood spin-off series Helen Raynor will contribute a two-part story -- Helen promises "BRILLIANT monsters!" As with Series Two and Torchwood, Russell T Davies says that there have been extra scripts commissioned from other writers -- a total of 16 scripts including 'over-commissions' are currently being worked on, allowing "flexibility … to shape the series" and leaving "material in place for the fourth run", if Series Four is commissioned. On the subject of which, Davies stresses that it's "just a personal hope, absolutely nothing has been decided yet within the BBC."




FILTER: - Russell T Davies - Production - Series 3/29 - Magazines - DWM