About Time 6

Saturday, 18 August 2007 - Reported by Jarrod Cooper

Mad Norwegian Press has released more information on About Time 6. There is still no release date on this volume.
About Time vol. 6 covers Seasons 22 to 26 of "Doctor Who," focusing on the tenures of Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy, as well as the TV movie starring Paul McGann in mind-bending detail. In addition to the usual concerns such as the TV show’s continuity (alien races, the Doctor’s abilities, etc.) and lore (anecdotal, "Did You Know?"-style material), author Tat Wood will examine each Colin Baker, McCoy and McGann story in the context of the year/historical period it was produced, determining just how topical the stories were.

Essays in this volume include: "Is Continuity a Pointless Waste of Time?", "Why are Elements so Weird in Space?", "Why Do Time Lords Meet in Sequence?", "Is There a Season 6B?", "Did They Think We'd Buy Just Any Old Crap?", "What Might the Other Season 23 Have Been Like?", "Who Narrates This Programme?", "How Warped was the Doctor's Mind?", "How 'Good' is the Doctor?", "The Valeyard, Er - How?", "What's All This Stuff About Anoraks?", "What are the Oddest Romances in the Programme's History?", "The Semiotic Thickness of What?", "When Did Susan Go to School?", "What are the Gayest Things in Doctor Who, "Did Cartmel Have Any Plan at All?", "Could It Be Magic?", "Where Does 'Canon' End?", "What Were Josiah's Blasphemous Theories?", "Are These 'gods' Related?", "What About Season 27?" and "Does Paul McGann Count?"




FILTER: - Books

Sarah Jane Adventures Latest

Saturday, 18 August 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive

The BBC has unveiled its new look for CBBC with the news that spin-off series The Sarah Jane Adventures will feature "familiar alien enemies from Doctor Who".

A new logo - seen right - and animated idents have been created for the multi-platform channel dedicated to six-to-12-year-olds, as the new season and new look go on air and online from September 3, although the start date of The Sarah Jane Adventures is yet to be confirmed.

The forthcoming autumn season will also see Reggie Yates, who plays Martha's brother, Leo, and who narrates the audiobook Sting of the Zygons, co-presenting adventure game show Escape From Scorpion Island.




FILTER: - Sarah Jane

North American DVD Covers

Thursday, 16 August 2007 - Reported by Jarrod Cooper

Amazon.com has released the covers to the two Classic Series DVD releases for November, Arc of Infinity andTime-Flight. Both of these releases are scheduled to be available on November 6th, alongside The Complete Series Three box set.




FILTER: - USA - Blu-ray/DVD

Doctor Who Adventures Successes

Thursday, 16 August 2007 - Reported by Jarrod Cooper

In a report released by BBC MagazinesDoctor Who Adventures has become the fastest growing consumer magazine in the UK. Doctor Who Adventures magazine posts the industry's biggest year on year growth, up a staggering 99 percent, selling 47,000 more copies per issue than last period.
Peter Phippen, Managing Director, BBC Magazines says: "Yet again we're posting possibly the best overall set of ABC numbers in the business with our total year-on-year circulation rising by 3% (6% pop). We're also publishing the fastest growing title in the industry with Doctor Who Adventures coming in at a 99% year on year rise. A lot of nonsense is talked about the robustness of the magazine market, in particular monthlies, but our outstanding editorial and professional marketing has won through with the result that all our monthly titles bar one are posting year-on-year growth. Nor is it an issue of whether you should back magazines or websites. We're putting massive investment into our websites and our new ABC brand audits are testament to our belief that cross-media brands are the future – something we've believed in for over twenty years."

Jaynie Bye, Joint Managing Director, BBC Children's Magazines, says: "The astounding success story for us this year has been Doctor Who Adventures magazine which, at 99%, posts the largest year-on-year increase this ABC consumer publishing period. The title continues to smash our predictions and has, over the last six months alone, managed to sell 47,000 additional copies per issue and massively grown its market."




FILTER: - Magazines - Press - DWA

Doctor Who Adventures 36

Thursday, 16 August 2007 - Reported by Jarrod Cooper

What do YOU think happened to Dalek Caan?

The new issue of Doctor Who Adventures - out today - takes a look at Caan and wonders if he could be the last Dalek in the universe.

PLUS:

The Journal of Impossible Things - look inside John Smith's mind with our guide to his fantastic dream book.
Doctor's Data - find out about Sally Sparrow, the girl who saved the Doctor.
Adventure guide / Doctor Who Confidential extra - return to present-day Earth for monster scares in The Lazarus Experiment.
Comic strip - a new adventure for the Doctor and Martha called Signs of Life.
Scary mask - become a Pig Slave and serve the Daleks!
Who knows? - your Doctor Who questions answered.
Tales from the TARDIS - the Doctor is attacked by a Plasmavore.
Posters - five exclusive posters of the Ood, Dalek Caan, Gridlock, The Lazarus Experiment and Martha and Tish.

This issue comes with a free gift.




FILTER: - Magazines - DWA

Martha on Torchwood

Wednesday, 15 August 2007 - Reported by Josiah Rowe

The BBC Press Office has released more information about the character of Martha Jones appearing onTorchwood, along with a photograph of Freema Agyeman with the rest of the Torchwood cast.

Agyeman is quoted as saying: "Martha has grown up a lot since Doctor Who. She's now a fully qualified doctor and a bit hardened by life experiences. When she finds out that Captain Jack needs her help, she joins Torchwood for a while. She continues to develop her knowledge of alien intelligence, but this time keeping her feet on the ground.

"These will be invaluable skills to take back with her on future adventures with the Doctor. She outgrew the Doctor, in a sense, and so the next time they meet it will be in a more professional capacity. I'm so proud of her journey and who she has become.

"And for me as an actress, it's a great new challenge to be able to broaden and expand Martha as she develops in other directions for this more adult series. The Torchwood team are fabulous to work with and have made me very welcome."

Agyeman will appear in three episodes of Torchwood, which will air early in 2008. The press release also mentions guest stars James MarstersAlan Dale and Richard Briers; Briers' character is described as "Parker, a reclusive millionaire who is the keeper of alien secrets, much later in the series."

Thanks to Ryan Love.




FILTER: - People - Torchwood - Production

Doctor Who Comedy Night

Tuesday, 14 August 2007 - Reported by Marcus

Comedians appearing at this year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe are staging a special one off Dcotor Who themed comedy show as part of the david-tennant.com appeal fund, raising money in memory of David Tennant's mother, Helen McDonald, who died recently.

The gig will take place at the Laughing Horse@Linsays, (Fringe Venue 56), on Saturday 18th August from 9.10pm - 10.10pm.

Although the show is not ticketed, and is not part of the official Fringe programme, those attending will be asked to donate £10, with all proceeds going to the ACCORD hospice where Mrs McDonald worked for many years, and where she spent her final days.

Among the comedians taking part so far are Mitch Benn, Bill Bruce and Toby Hadoke whose 2006 Fringe hit - Moths Ate My Doctor Who Scarf - has recently been turned into a successful BBC Radio show.

This is a late night show, and is therefore not suitable for anyone under that age of 18. Entry is on a strictly first come, first admitted basis.

The full line-up of acts will be announced prior to the event.

Ken Mathie, Fundraising Manager for the ACCORD hospice, commented: "Everyone associated with ACCORD has been extremely moved by the public reaction to Helen’s passing. She was such a lovely person and will be sorely missed by everyone who was fortunate enough to know her. This show is a wonderful example of the support we are receiving from fans of Doctor Who and I wish all the comedians involved every success"

So far fans have raised over 9,000 pounds from the appeals set up bydavid-tennant.com and members of theOutpost Gallifrey Forum.

Donations can still be made at justgiving.com. People who donate are asked not to mention David Tennant in the comments section, in order to protect his privacy.




FILTER: - Special Events

Region 1 Season 3 Cover

Tuesday, 14 August 2007 - Reported by Jarrod Cooper

Tvshowsondvd.com have released the cover for the forthcoming North American release of series 3 on DVD. The North American cover, pictured below, will feature David Tennant and Freema Agyeman. There is still a tentative release date of November 6th, which should be confirmed by Warner Home Video soon.




FILTER: - USA - Blu-ray/DVD

Hex in legal trouble

Tuesday, 14 August 2007 - Reported by Jarrod Cooper

Philip Olivier, the actor who plays Seventh Doctor companion Hex forBig Finish Productions, has been fined 20,000 pounds after being caught breaching housing regulations.

According to Digital Spy, Olivier was also made to pay 250 pounds in costs after being convicted under new laws which require landlords of three storey houses, or houses with five or more unrelated people living in them, to register with the local authority.

Olivier didn't attend the hearing at Liverpool Magistrates Court and had nobody represent him.

A council spokesman told the Yorkshire Post: "The legislation was introduced following recent Government research that showed people living in these types of property are 16 times more likely to die or be injured in fire than people living in a single occupancy house.

"In some areas in Liverpool this risk increases to 30 times and the law is designed to raise standards."

The court was told that Olivier did not own the property but that he was the landlord and received rent payments. The house has reportedly since been sold.




FILTER: - People - Audio

Battles in Time: Invader

Tuesday, 14 August 2007 - Reported by Jarrod Cooper

GE Fabbri Limited has announced a new set of Battles in Time cards and a special issue set for release next month. Following Exterminator andAnnihilator sets, the Invader cards feature 225 brand new, spectacular images from the latest TV episodes.

The set launches with the Battles In Time: Invader Special, featuring an in-depth magazine guide to all the new Invader cards, new games and fascinating fact-files covering all 13 episodes of the 2007 TV series. This collector’s edition also comes with two booster packs to start off your collection and a free luxury laminated trading card album!
About the Invader trading card set

225 unique designs based on the 2007 TV adventures.
Pack odds: 184 common cards to collect (8 in every pack); 25 rare (1 in every pack);
10 super-rare (1 in every 6 packs); 6 ultra-rare (1 in every 24 packs).



About the Battles in Time: Invader Special

2 regular packs of Invader cards.
Guaranteed lenticular Dalek card, unique to this collector’s special!
Fantastic laminated Battles in Time card-album, holds over 400 cards!
40-page magazine featuring a guide to the best cards in the set.
Guide to every episode of the latest Doctor Who series, fromSmith and Jones to Last of the Time Lords, including plot details, monster fact-files, behind-the-scenes trivia and puzzles.
Three ‘choose your own adventure’ gameplay spreads featuring characters from
the new series.
On sale 5th September 2007




FILTER: - Merchandise