The Collectable Art Company: Seventh Doctor design print released

Monday, 12 November 2012 - Reported by Chuck Foster
After a slight delay The Collectable Art Company has announced that the second of its Limited Edition Fine Art prints, featuring the Seventh Doctor's original costume, has finally been released.


Grahame Flynn, Managing Director of The Collectable Art Company, explains:
7th Doctor Costume (1987) - Sylvester McCoy with printWe originally intended this print to be available sooner but Sylvester was filming The Hobbit in New Zealand. A good result of the delay was that we were able to spend more time on the From Script to Screen booklet that is included with the print. Sylvester sent me his introduction between filming his scenes.

Ken Trew takes us through his career at the BBC and about his early experiences on Doctor Who. We look in detail at the costume design process with all of Ken's concept designs reproduced for the first time.

Chris Pocock and John Walker have kindly allowed their original costumes to be photographed in studio and former BBC Vis-FX designer Mike Tucker has given us access to Sylvester's pocket watch and original TARDIS key.

Many of the photographs are exclusive and have never been seen before.
 

The officially-licensed print, based on Trew's original production drawing from 1987, is available worldwide in a limited edition of 750.





FILTER: - Merchandise - Sylvester McCoy

The Barry Newbery Signature Collection

Monday, 12 November 2012 - Reported by John Bowman
A book celebrating the work of Doctor Who set designer Barry Newbery has been brought out by Telos Publishing.

Newbery was one of the show's longest-serving designers, working on a large number of stories from the very beginning in 1963, with a pedigree that started with uncredited contributions to versions 1 and 2 of the pilot episode, followed by him becoming the credited designer on The Cave of Skulls, The Forest of Fear, and The Firemaker - episodes 2, 3, and 4 of the programme's first story - having taken over from Peter Brachacki. Newbery then worked on another 12 stories for five of the Doctors during the classic era, finishing with The Awakening, broadcast in 1984.

Designed by Paul Smith, who last year brought out The Wonderful Book of Doctor Who - 1965, The Barry Newbery Signature Collection is a 96-page, full-colour, coffee-table publication featuring many of Newbery's own photographs of his sets and designs. It is annotated with his descriptions and memories of his work on the series, and includes some set designs and sketches as well as many never-before-seen black-and-white and colour photographs, all of which have been cleaned up and colour-corrected.

David J Howe, of Telos Publishing, said:
Barry Newbery is one of the true unsung heroes of Doctor Who. Without him, the stories he worked on would not be so rich and memorable, and it was his role as designer on the original Sixties stories which helped to establish the show as a visual feast.

Back then, the designer did everything from the sets to the props to the monsters, and Barry's visual flair brought us the lavishness of Marco Polo, The Aztecs, and The Crusade, as well as the science-fiction stylings of The Dominators and The Invisible Enemy, and the gothic splendour of The Brain of Morbius and The Masque of Mandragora.

It's been an enormous pleasure to have worked with Barry and Paul to bring this book to fruition. We hope it's a fitting tribute to both the show and to one of its most significant contributors.


Two editions of the book are available. The standard paperback one can be bought here, and Telos Publishing has also brought out a deluxe, limited-edition hardback that comes with a limitation signature sticker signed by Newbery.




FILTER: - Merchandise - Books - Classic Series

People Roundup

Sunday, 11 November 2012 - Reported by Chuck Foster
David Tennant made his Star Wars "debut" this weekend in The Clone Wars episode A Test of Strength, providing the voice of droid Huyang. Supervising director Dave Filoni (a Doctor Who fan himself) said: "When I heard the Doctor himself, David Tennant, was a fan of Star Wars I knew I had to find a way to get in contact with him to see if he would perform on The Clone Wars. The result was 'Huyang,' an ancient droid in the service of the Jedi Order, whose sole task in life has been overseeing the construction of lightsabers. I thought David was perfect for the part and he did not disappoint. He delivered a performance which impressed even the Master himself, George Lucas." [IGN, 6 Nov 2012]


Clip featuring David Tennant as the voice of Huyang, IGN

The actor has also contributed artwork to an auction by the Steps’ Youth Achievement Award group, aimed to help youngsters in Weymouth; his sketch of K9 was won by an American bidder for £311. [Dorset Echo, 3 Nov 2012]

Former Doctor Who actress Karen Gillan talks about her new life in the USA: "I'm looking forward to embracing the culture. It's completely alien. There's loads of vegans but I won't turn vegan. I'm too Scottish. I love haggis. I loved Alabama because it reminds me of my home town. There is no one there and there is a lot of fried food. My guilty pleasure is Mars bars put in the deep fat fryer." [Daily Record, 4 Nov 2012]

Torchwood actress Eve Myles has been filming a new series, Frankie, which will be shown by BBC1 spring next year: "This is an incredible leading part for a female. It's tremendous pressure but also tremendously exciting. I can't wait to step into Frankie's shoes and get on set. I'm desperate to start. Lucy Gannon is an incredible writer and writes relationships so beautifully." [WalesOnline, 3 Nov 2012]

David Morrissey recently appeared on The Craig Ferguson Show to promote his appearance in The Walking Dead; spotting the police box on the host's desk he went on to briefly chat about his appearance in 2009's Christmas Special: "After we'd finished filming it, David Tennant announced that he was going to leave, so Russell T Davies said 'do you mind if we spin the story about you maybe being the next Doctor?' I said no and he said 'you CAN'T tell anyone that you're not going to be the next Doctor!' I said sure but I can tell my kids and he went 'NO!' - so for six/seven months my kids were going 'are you going to be Doctor Who?' and I'd say do your homework and I might tell you!" [The Craig Ferguson Show, 30 Oct 2012]

Director Michael E Briant is due to engage in a webchat on Monday 26th November from 8pm to 9pm to discuss his career and his autobiography, Who is Michael E Briant? [Tony Jordan/Planet Mondas, 5 Nov 2012]

Anne Reid, Sarah Lancashire, and Derek Jacobi star in the forthcoming BBC One romantic comedy Last Tango In Halifax. The six-part series starts on Tuesday 20th November at 9pm.




FILTER: - People - Karen Gillan - David Tennant

DVD Update: The Reign of Terror BBFC Classifications

Thursday, 8 November 2012 - Reported by Chuck Foster
The Reign of Terror: Animation StillThe British Board of Film Classification have listed features to be included on the DVD release of William Hartnell adventure The Reign of Terror, due out on 28th January.

FEATURE LIST ONE:
00:25:02:12  DON'T LOSE YOUR HEAD - 
THE MAKING OF THE REIGN OF TERROR
00:04:09:05 THE REIGN OF TERROR - PHOTO GALLERY
00:03:36:19 THE REIGN OF TERROR - ANIMATION GALLERY
FEATURE LIST TWO:
00:01:02:00  DOCTOR WHO - THE FIRST DOCTOR RETURNS -
THE REIGN OF TERROR (TRAILER)
Commentaries have been passed on all six episodes, including the two animated episodes four and five.





FILTER: - William Hartnell - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

DVD Update: Legacy Box BBFC Classifications

Thursday, 8 November 2012 - Reported by Chuck Foster
The Legacy BoxThough no formal details have been given for the UK DVD release of the Legacy Box (Region One details were released last month), the British Board of Film Classification have now passed the additional material that features in the set, plus their running times.

SHADA:
00:04:46:06 SHADA - PHOTO GALLERY
00:25:35:09 TAKEN OUT OF TIME -
THE MAKING AND BREAKING OF SHADA
00:12:41:20 SHADA - NOW AND THEN
00:27:46:01 STRIKE! STRIKE! STRIKE!
00:30:08:15 BEING A GIRL
MORE THAN 30 YEARS IN THE TARDIS:
00:25:57:14 REMEMBERING NICHOLAS COURTNEY 
00:13:29:06 DOCTOR WHO STORIES - PETER PURVES
00:10:33:21 THE LAMBERT TAPES - SUCCESS STORY
00:01:47:21 RICHARD MARTIN'S MEMORIES OF VERITY
00:22:35:23 THOSE DEADLY DIVAS
00:06:04:02 MORE THAN THIRTY YEARS IN THE TARDIS - PHOTO GALLERY
In addition, the six episodes comprising the 2003 animated version of the story, featuring Paul McGann as the Doctor, has also been passed (the final item most likely refers to the introductory 'episode' to the story that places it in context):
00:18:26:04 DOCTOR WHO - SHADA - EPISODE ONE
00:22:43:03 DOCTOR WHO - SHADA - EPISODE TWO
00:20:49:13 DOCTOR WHO - SHADA - EPISODE THREE
00:27:22:00 DOCTOR WHO - SHADA - EPISODE FOUR
00:24:18:21 DOCTOR WHO - SHADA - EPISODE FIVE
00:23:41:16 DOCTOR WHO - SHADA - EPISODE SIX
00:07:31:09 DOCTOR WHO - SHADA (EPISODE LISTING)
Steve Roberts recently explained how the animated version is to be presented:
Just to clarify the reason that the McGann Shada is represented as a Flash animation rather than as DVD Video. Two reasons: Firstly, the animation was judged by all (including those who made it) to be not of sufficient quality for video. Secondly, it would have required a separate disc as there wasn't room on either of the others to include it - and that was an option that was outside of budget.

I thought it should be included however, as it's part of the official BBC canon by virtue of being broadcast (which is ironic, as the BBC Video version itself isn't!), so I worked closely with James Goss to package it into a form that could be viewed easily on an PC or Mac via a simple web interface.

The Legacy Box is due to be released on the 7th January in the UK(R2), and on the 8th January for North America(R1).





FILTER: - Tom Baker - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD - Paul McGann

Colin Baker aims to be King of the Jungle

Thursday, 8 November 2012 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Colin Baker: I'm a Celebrity - Get Me Out Of Here! Photo: ITVColin Baker is to be one of the contestants on this year's series of I'm A Celebrity - Get Me Out Of Here!, the reality television show on ITV1 that places a number of celebrities out in a jungle environment in Australia who then take on challenges in order to become the 'king' or 'queen' of the jungle!

The former Doctor said that he's doing the show because of his four daughters:
My children decided I should do this. They are fans of the show and the programme is on incessantly every year. They told me I had to go on and they are so excited. My family are ridiculously delighted that I am going - "can't wait to see you chomping on a giraffe's buttock" - there's no sympathy at all, it's all "ooh can't wait, can't wait!"

Now I am about to go in the jungle, I wouldn't say I am excited. It's a mixture of intrigue, a feeling of resigned and interested to see how I am going to react. I haven't a clue as I have not done anything like this ever before. For me, this is pushing back the boundaries. I think I'll be able to deal with anything that comes up in the jungle: after all, I've met aliens from the planet Zog, and I have encountered the fans of Doctor Who conventions - all of whom are wonderful but can be a bit alien! There is one trial in particular that I'm terrified by, and I'm not going to tell you what it is - do you think I'm stupid or what?!?!

Colin is the first major Doctor Who actor to engage in jungle shenanigans, though in 2007 the series was won by "Doctor" Christopher Biggins, who appeared alongside him in Big Finish's The One Doctor.

Other celebrities competing in the jungle this year include fellow actors Charlie Brooks (EastEnders), Helen Flanagan (Coronation Street) and Linda Robson (Birds of a Feather), comedian Brian Conley, singer Ashley Roberts, sports personalities Eric Bristow (darts) and David Haye (WBA), entertainment PR Hugo Taylor and MP Nadine Dorries.

The twelfth series begins on ITV1 on 11th November at 9:00pm.

Colin Baker: I'm a Celebrity - Get Me Out Of Here! Photo: ITV Colin Baker: I'm a Celebrity - Get Me Out Of Here! Photo: ITV Colin Baker: I'm a Celebrity - Get Me Out Of Here! Photo: ITV




FILTER: - Miscellaneous - Colin Baker

Cybermen to return in Gaiman story

Wednesday, 7 November 2012 - Reported by Chuck Foster
The BBC have announced that the Cybermen will feature in the second half of the current series, appearing in the penultimate episode, written by Neil Gaiman.

Tamzin Outhwaite (reported last roundup) has also now been confirmed for the episode, and will be joined by Warwick Davis, whose sci-fi/fantasy career includes playing Wicket in Return of the Jedi, the titular role in Willow and the Leprechaun films, and Professor Flitwick/Griphook in the Harry Potter films. On television he has most recently been seen as "himself" in Life's Too Short.

The two are joined by Jason Watkins, who is also no stranger to sci-fi/fantasy, having played the vampire leader Herrick in Being Human; other credits include Lark Rise To Candleford, Little Dorrit, Psychoville, and Dirk Gently, and he can currently be seen as Gavin in Sky's Trollied.

Steven Moffat said:
Cybermen were always the monsters that scared me the most! Not just because they were an awesome military force, but because sometimes they could be sleek and silver and right behind you without you even knowing. And with one of the all-time classic monsters returning, and a script from one of our finest novelists, it's no surprise we have attracted such stellar names as Tamzin, Jason and Warwick.

The episode is directed by Stephen Woolfenden, with the guest stars described as "a band of misfits on a mysterious planet..."


The writer himself has been busy with rewrites of the script, teasing away on Twitter. As reported last week on the Wednesday he said: "Amazing hectic couple of days & stressed Doctor Who post-table-read rewrite in progress. On BBC legal advice Lampwick is no more.«". On Thursday, he continued: "back on Doctor Who script. Only 5 pages to trim before dawn.« They start shooting it on Wednesday. They need the script now.« There. It is FOUR pages shorter than it was this morning. It has been sent to the BBC. And I am going to bed.«" Finally, on Friday: "I believe that we've just locked my Dr Who script. I probably won't have to write it again until we need new ADR dialogue once it's edited.«" - to which executive producer Caroline Skinner retorted: "Ha ha!! A locked script is an alien concept on Doctor Who.... :-)«"

On this morning's announcement, he added: "I saw my first Cybermen watching Moonbase, as Jamie thought the Piper was coming for him (scary). Then Tomb of the Cybermen terrified me.«". And on his version of them being scary? "I hope so.«"





FILTER: - Steven Moffat - Series 7/33

Doctor Who Magazine: The Child of Time

Tuesday, 6 November 2012 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Doctor Who Magazine have announced the latest in their collected comics series, with The Child of Time encompassing adventures for the Eleventh Doctor and Amy.

DWM Special: The Child of TimeThe Child of Time

Join the Doctor and Amy Pond on their amazing adventures in space and time, in these exceptional collected comics from the pages of Doctor Who Magazine!

Featuring nine amazing stories over 244 packed pages: Supernature, Planet Bollywood!, The Golden Ones, The Professor, The Queen and the Bookshop, The Screams of Death, Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night, Forever Dreaming, Apotheosis and The Child of Time!

The Doctor has a new companion – Amy Pond – and together the two of them embark on a thrilling journey through time and space. Along the way, the two friends arrive on a planet with some extraordinary plant life, encounter a society that keeps bursting into song, and enter a surreal dream world where they meet the mysterious Dark. The Doctor also faces his old enemies, the Axons, in Tokyo, and a new mystery begins: just who is the strange little girl, Chiyoko, the enigmatic ‘Child of Time’...?

PLUS! A bumper commentary section where the writers, artists and editors reveal the stories behind the strips, featuring never-before-published artwork, original story outlines and much more!

Doctor Who - The Child of Time, written by Jonathan Morris, with artwork from Martin Geraghty, Dan McDaid, Mike Collins, David A Roach, Roger Langridge, Rob Davis, James Offredi and Adrian Salmon, is published by Panini Comics and is available from book shops, comic shops and online.




FILTER: - Comics - DWM

Live+7 Viewing Figures

Sunday, 4 November 2012 - Reported by Marcus
Live+7 figures are now available for the series of Doctor Who episodes shown in September.

The Live+7 figures give the total numbers viewing a programme within a week of transmission, including all watching on PVR, transmission repeats and on iPlayer.

Each Doctor Who episode increased its audience by an average of 52% from the initial overnight figure, a much larger increase than achieved by the average BBC One drama, which had a 25% increase. Just under 10% of viewers watched on iPlayer, with the vast majority of iPlayer viewers time-shifting the programme.

With an average increase of 3.07 million, Doctor Who has the second-largest average increase for Drama in 2012, just being beaten by Steven Moffat's other series, Sherlock, which increased each episode by an average of 3.34 million viewers. Doctor Who has the largest percentage increase for Drama for the year so far.

TitleFirst RunLive+7increaseFirst RunRepeatsTime Shifti Player
Asylum of the Daleks6.39m9.65m51%66%4%20%10%
Dinosaurs on a Spaceship5.43m8.64m59%63%5%23%9%
A Town Called Mercy6.49m9.22m42%70%2%20%7%
The Power of Three5.59m8.68m55%64%3%24%8%
The Angels Take Manhattan5.86m8.92m52%66%3%22%9%




FILTER: - Doctor Who - Ratings - UK - Series 7/33

Roundup (current series)

Friday, 2 November 2012 - Reported by Chuck Foster

In Production

Neil Gaiman with Jenna-Louise Coleman. Photo: Neil GaimanThis week saw the read-through for episode twelve, written by Neil Gaiman; the writer commented on the experience over the last few days on Twitter: "Amazing hectic couple of days and stressed Doctor Who post-table-read rewrite in progress. On BBC legal advice Lampwick is no more." The read-through also gave him the chance to meet new girl Jenna-Louise Coleman!

Matt Smith praised Gaiman's script at the London MCM Expo: "It's very different, but again I think it will be a fan's favourite because, well, without giving anything away, it just will be, because there's something in it. Neil's brilliant ideas will always add a level to Doctor Who, which will be interesting."

One guest star for the episode will be Tamzin Outhwaite, who according to her CV will be playing the role of Capt Alice. A former EastEnders actress, other lead roles include Red Cap (2003), Hotel Babylon (2006), The Fixer (2008) and Paradox (2009). Asked about her role by Flicks and the City earlier in October, she said: "I'd like to play a baddie, but I haven't done a goodie for a while, so it'll be nice to play a goodie."

Another actor confirmed for the episode is Calvin Dean, whose CV indicated a character name of Ha-Ha (now removed); speaking on Twitter he said: "wow. things get out so quickly on here. So much for being secretive!". The actor was critically acclaimed for his role as Darren Mullet in Tormented, but is also familiar to the Doctor Who world, having played "Chris" in The Sarah Jane Adventures story The Gift.

Former singing contestant on The X Factor Zoe Alexander hopes that her appearance in episode seven (2013#3) will kick off an acting career: "It's great to be working on Doctor Who - the people are a lot nicer than some you get to meet working in TV. I'm loving it but I'm hoping that this is just a start for me." [WalesOnline, 30 Oct 2012]

Regular monster/extra Matthew Doman has also been involved; on Tuesday he said: "Sitting in the changing rooms ready to Don my new monster costume for the WHO. A week of monstering WOO HOO!!"; today, he added: "Our Monster is coming close to the final wrap on this ep of Dr WHO :( It's ok I'm monstering again Sunday for the Dr WHO Experience ;) ha ha"

Episode six is undergoing editing, with director Colm McCarthy indicating yesterday that there's about two weeks to go. It's certainly busy work, with McCarthy commmenting this morning: "Got into the edit at 6AM. Started shouting "INCEPTION CAT!" at the editor at 6.05AM. Directing is hard."; he then added: "Temp music is fun when you have a bin full of genius thanks to Murray Gold".

Another actor identified for episode six (2013#1) is Robert Whitelock, whose CV indicates he plays a character named Mahler. The actor is about to appear as DC John Attwood in the second series of The Hour.

Meanwhile, Rachael Stirling talked about her recent filming experience in Doctor Who with her mother, Dame Diana Rigg: "We filmed Doctor Who in the summer, which was amazing. It's a juggernaut, I got to see all sorts of secret things I can't tell you about or I'll have to shoot you! Working with my mum was funny - I think it was a good experience for both of us, we really loved it; I was very proud of her and she said likewise, and that something we'll always remember. Working with Matt was gorgeous, he's brilliant, he's got that wonderful energy, I think he's a really admirable, brilliant man!" [Sky Tyne and Wear Video, 1 Nov 2012]

Matt Smith on the Steve Wright Show

Matt Smith on the Steve Wright ShowMatt Smith was a guest on the Steve Wright Show on Monday afternoon, during which he managed to avoid giving away anything about the Christmas Special! "I can say it's set in Victorian England, we meet a Doctor who's been profoundly changed by the experiences before from losing the Ponds ... and into his life walks Jenna-Louise Coleman's character and off they go on new adventures!"

Talking about the series in general, he said: "I think that the Doctor is the same character fundamentally, that's why we tune in to watch the show, because there's a mad man who turns up and saves the universe with a ball of string and a toaster, and that's kind of it. That's why it's been going for fifty years - at its core and its heart beat that's what it's about. Of course it is going to evolve with CGI and now you get a bit more culture perhaps - but then is it more cultured, I don't know? I think sometimes there can be too much CG and 3D and all that sort of stuff can get a bit overwhelming. Hopefully you can be a bit more inventive with the stories and actually go and create space, or you can go back to Victorian England in a way that 40/50 years ago was more difficult to do."

Looking to next year, he said: "We're very fortunate to have Mr Steven Moffat, who's a complete genius, he really is. I've just read episode one of the next season and you think ... and there're some brilliant ideas in it, there's a moment in it which involves wheels - that is an exclusive, an actual honest exclusive! - and when you watch it you'll go ahhh. It's him, being brilliant."

Into the Future - 50th Anniversary

Peter Davison talks about the 50th Anniversary: "Every day I check the phone to see if Steven Moffat has called me! I don't know what’s happening next year, I have nothing to report. I'm sure it will be something fantastic! But I don't know what. I think if [the classic Doctors] aren't invited, I'm going to make my own rival video. I'll do my own 50th anniversary special. Colin Baker's prepared to work for nothing!" [ComicBookResources, 26 Oct]

Meanwhile, the special documentary for the Anniversary seems to have fallen foul of recent revelations, according to the latest edition of Private Eye (number 1326): "As the sound of stable doors slamming shut resounds around the BBC the Jimmy Savile scandal is having some increasingly bizarre after-effects. A one-off docudrama about the creation of Doctor Who scripted by Mark Gatiss is in production, to be broadcast in November 2013 in celebration of the programme's 50th anniversary. Its makers have just been ordered to excise all scenes set in Television Centre dressing rooms."

Into the Future - cast/crew aspirations

Deep Space Nine actor Aron Eisenberg has said that he'd like to be in the show, especially if Peter Jackson does direct! "If they called me I'd be there. I want to to play some fun, interesting, crazy little character. I would love to get into something really fun and cool. It would be awesome. Doctor Who is on my Netflix queue, There's so many things on my Netflix queue, I still haven't been able to see Game of Thrones." [Waikato Times, 20 Oct]

As well as Jackson, Matt Smith continues to add to his wishlist of directors for the series: "Danny Boyle, I would just have a heart attack if he came anywhere near Doctor Who. I would love it. He's one of my favourite filmmakers around. He'd be an amazing director for Doctor Who, but I don't think we'd get him. I'll tell you who I'd also think would be great. Edgar Wright. He'd do something brilliant. I think he'd do something really, really clever with it." [Digital Spy, 31 Oct 2012]

Danny Boyle's collaborator for the Olympics Opening Ceremony, Frank Cottrell Boyce, would also like to write for the series: "I'm always slightly aggrieved that I never got asked to write for Doctor Who - that's in the same league (as the Olympics). I'd jump at that." [Digital Spy, 31 Oct 2012]

(with thanks to Ruther, Sky Tyne&Wear)




FILTER: - People - Matt Smith - Peter Davison - Series 7/33