Doctor Who Magazine 362

Tuesday, 11 October 2005 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

We've received the cover illustration and press release for issue 362 of Doctor Who Magazine, which are located below. Click on the thumbnail for a larger version of the cover. (Thanks to Tom Spilsbury/DWM)

Celebrate the Doctor's lovely lady companions in the latest issue of Doctor Who Magazine!

Our investigator Kate Orman finds out what Rose has in common with her predecessors, and why Doctor Who is a programme for girls again...

"Rose isn't sure about herself and what she can achieve," executive producer Julie Gardner tells Kate. "She can either stay in her London life and eat her baked beans and watch the telly, or she can step through the TARDIS doors and literally travel anywhere. Once she makes that choice, she's constantly in danger, constantly faced with difficult choices..."

Also in this issue, composer Murray Gold chats about re-jigging the Doctor Who theme, making Bad Wolf music, and influential tunes by The Pixies, (and even plays some air guitar!) in our exclusive interview; script editor Simon Winstone takes readers behind the scenes in Production Notes; and The Fact of Fiction takes an in-depth look at 1977's The Invisible Enemy - the story
that unleashed K9!

Meanwhile, things are getting stranger and stranger for the Doctor and Rose in the concluding part of The Cruel Sea, our brand new comic strip from Robert Shearman and Mike Collins...

Plus there are more casting exclusives in Gallifrey Guardian, a look behind the microphones on Big Finish's new Cyberman series, the latest reviews in Off the Shelf, and all your usual favourites.

DWM 362 goes on sale from Thursday 13 October priced Ãº3.99

FILTER: - Magazines - DWM

News Clips

Friday, 16 September 2005 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

The South Wales Evening Post today reported that the BBC Wales film crew will descend on the Gower coast in Swansea this weekend for new series filming. It is also said that the filming will be for episode 1 of the new series, although it is not confirmed if David Tennant or Billie Piper will be present, they also say that the actual location is a secret and do not want this info to get out to the general public.

Sylvester McCoy will be appearing at the Hollywood Cinema on 2nd October for an interview, which will then be followed by showings of Battlefield and Remembrance of the Daleks, all as part of the Yarmouth Film Festival; more details atEDP24.

Annette Badland, better known to Season One fans as Margaret Blaine, is currently appearing in Radio Four's "The Archers" as the ever-so-slightly machiavellian Hazel Woolley. A long-running but irregular character (played in past appearances by Hilary Armstrong, Jan Cox and Hilary Newcombe), Hazel seems set to feature for some time, as she vies against her increasingly senile father's wife for control over his businesses. Nno incidents yet of suspicious farting or oddly placed zips, though, so Ambridge may yet prove safe.

John Barrowman and Richard Wilson will be appearing in Cinderella over Christmas at the New Wimbledon Theatre from 9th December; they're currently doing auditions for it for children, details at IC South London (and theatre info at The Ambassadors).

Paul Abbott, recently revealed to have been the fifth potential writer for the first season of "Doctor Who" this past year, is quoted by The Guardian and The Times as saying that "too much television drama is under-ambitious, predictable and needlessly boring" but that producer Russell T Davies' series "Second Coming" was "a television masterpiece. It grappled with the most colossal subject matter in the return of a Messiah to earth. Not in a Robert Powell way. Modern earth. Manchester, actually. And mainly the scruffy end."

In a feature on the Brighton Pier Doctor Who exhibition in the latest DWM, it is said that there is uncertainty about the exhibition's future after its seasonal closure in November. Vicki Whitmore of Brighton Pier says that there will be other exhibitions in the dome but if there were another Who exhibition available, "we would obviously consider taking it back on". Lorne Martin, of Experience Design, says that they are "looking at other ventures in other areas, whereby the exhibitions can grow [...] The fact that the show is already signed up for Series Three [means that] we can go and talk to more venues about making an even more thrilling experience."

(Thanks to Steve Tribe, Chuck Foster, Paul Engelberg, Matt Kimpton, Paul Hayes and "facethemusic")

FILTER: - DWM - Press - Radio Times

New Series Update

Friday, 16 September 2005 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

Some additional news about the next series in this month's issue of Doctor Who Magazine. On Zoe Wanamaker's return as Cassandra, DWM notes that next year's appearance differs from The End of the World in that the actress has actually been on-set this time to voice her lines and "react spontaneously with David and Billie". Also in Episode 1, there will be "a new race of villains to contend with at the same time [as Cassandra]". An interview with the producers of Doctor Who Confidential reveals that the second series has extra filming days that allow "filming five backstage days an episode this year", which should enable more behind-the-scenes coverage than in the first series. Production on Confidential has also "started earlier this year [...] This time we've been [in Cardiff] since the start", including footage of David Tennant on Blue Peter for the monster competition, which may be reflected in a Confidential episode examining "the close relationship Doctor Who and Blue Peter have shared over the years".

Additionally, regarding the three new books announced for next year (see yesterday's story), range consultant/editor Justin Richards explains that the selection of authors was determined by "the [same] reasons as last time around Ã» we're people with a track record of writing to spec and to schedule for the right market, and who have been signed off for all the confidential material." He also states that "we're still waiting for all sorts of decisions from all sorts of people" on the future of the past Doctors range of novels. "The Past Doctor books have a future, I'm sure, but exactly what we'll be doing, and when, I don't know. We're taking the time to make sure we get it right." In a separate interview elsewhere in the magazine, Richards also mentions that "we'll give [the Ninth Doctor] as rest in 2006, and by 2007 we'll have a better idea of whether he fits into the past Doctor range, or whether we do a new range of books which are branded as 'new series', but which are about an old Doctor." (The comments about the Ninth Doctor 'fitting in' seem to be referring to considerations of marketing and general readership perceptions and reception, rather than artistic/fan considerations.)

FILTER: - Production - DWM - Series 2/28

TV Series Update

Thursday, 15 September 2005 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

Issue 361 of Doctor Who Magazine, now on sale, confirms some TV series-related information:

Director Euros Lyn will work on two additional episodes, bringing his second series total up to four episodes, as the director of Block Four.

Zoe Wanamaker is indeed reprising her role as Cassandra in the first episode, still rumored to be titled "New Earth". She is joined by Michael Fitzgerald as Duke, Lucy Robinson as Clovis, Dona Croll as the Matron, Adjoa Andoh as the Sister, Anna Hope as the Novice, and Sean Gallagher as Chip. Additional casting updates: "The Christmas Invasion" will star Penelope Wilton as Harriet Jones, Adam Garcia as Alex Klein, Daniel Evans as Danny Llewellyn, Anita Briem as Sally, Chu Omambala as Major Blake, and Sean Glider. "School Reunion" features Elisabeth Sladen as Sarah Jane Smith, John Leeson as K9, Anthony Stewart Head as Mr. Finch, Eugene Washington as Mr Wagner, Joe Pickley as Kenny, Lucinda Dryzek as Melissa, Heather Cameron as Nina, Benjamin Smith as Luke, Clem Tibber Milo, Rod Arthur and Caroline Berry.

The issue confirms that Head will not play the Master, which Outpost Gallifrey reported some time ago (and contrary to reports on some other websites.)

Three new Doctor Who books will be released in the spring of 2006 featuring the Tenth Doctor as played by David Tennant. The novels include "The Genesis Casket" by Justin Richards, "The Ultimate Prophet" by Jacqueline Rayner and "Feast of the Drowned" by Stephen Cole. (Thanks to Nathan Baron and DWM)

FILTER: - Production - Magazines - DWM - Series 2/28

Doctor Who Magazine 361

Wednesday, 14 September 2005 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

Issue 361 of Doctor Who Magazine is due out this week; the following is the press blurb for the issue. Also, several people have let us know that Panini now allows overseas subscriptions through their website. Click on the thumbnail for a larger version of the cover. (Thanks to Tom Spilsbury/DWM)

DWM gets down with the kids in the latest issue of the magazine...

"Doctor Who was completely different to what I expected! I thought it would be really boring and un-modern (if you get what I mean). I also thought that it'd be stupid - not scary at all - oh, and old fashioned. But I was wrong. "These are the words I use to describe it now, after I'vge seen it: Spooky; Freaky; Weird; Cool; Amazing; Scary (especially for my little brother); Bright; Funny-ish; and lots more - but I've forgotten them... Wow!" Taslima (Age 12)

DWM visits Patcham High School in Sussex to find out what the kids thought of the new series of Doctor Who. Did they take to the Ninth Doctor and Rose? Did they find the Daleks scary? And what about that oh-so-cute Space Pig?

Also in this issue - Doctor Who production designer Edward Thomas takes an episode-by-episode look at the last series; a peek at how the new Doctor Who exhibition on Brighton Pier was created; and a chat with authors Justin Richards, Gareth Roberts and Steve Lyons about their latest Doctor Who novels published by BBC Books. Meanwhile, in the third part of The Cruel Sea, the new comic strip adventure written by TV writer Robert Shearman, things take a turn for the surreal. Just what is real and what is imaginary?

Plus there's a chat with the Doctor Who: Confidential producers; a sneak preview of BBC Audio's Doctor Who At the BBC - Volume 3; and for one issue only, script editor Helen Raynor takes over Production Notes.

Packed with all the latest news exclusives in Gallifrey Guardian, more Who-watching from The Time Team, and all the latest previews and reviews, Doctor Who Magazine 361 goes on sale on Thursday 15 September, priced Ãº3.99.

FILTER: - Magazines - DWM

More on DWM Special

Saturday, 3 September 2005 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

Doctor Who Magazine editor Clayton Hickman recently spoke on the Outpost Gallifrey forum about the forthcoming new DWM special being released late this year. Confirming the issue, he noted that the title would likely be either "The Story of Doctor Who" or "Doctor Who: In Their Own Words" and would be volume one of a continuing series of specials. "We wanted something really accessible, very different (to keep the old hands interested) and something only DWM could do," Hickman said. "So, Ben Cook is going through *every* interview DWM has ever published... so we can do 'Doctor Who: In Their Own Words'. A bit like the big Beatles and Monty Python books that came out recently, where the whole story is told only in snippets of interviews with the people involved. No editorialising (though some contextual comments), just the people telling us what happened and how they felt. ... There's barely anyone who we haven't spoken to at least once, and we have things like William Hartnell's Desert Island Discs transcript so even he gets a look in. It was going to be just one big volume, but the whole thing is just too massive, so we'll do three volumes for the 60s, 70s and 80s, one a year, alongside whatever the Series Two and Series Three Specials turn out to be. Plus it's a good chance for us to print all our beautiful pictures really nicely, and use any new ones we've found. There isn't so much space for them in DWM right now, so it's a good way to show them off. And imagine the kids seeing 'Troughton surrounded by clockwork soldiers' or 'Hartnell facing a Zarbi' for the very first time!" (Thanks to Clayton Hickman/DWM)

FILTER: - Magazines - DWM

Next DWM Special

Tuesday, 30 August 2005 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

According to the Diamond Comics distributor site, there will be a new special coming soon from the creators of DWM, "The Story of Doctor Who". "Discover the complete history of Doctor Who in the words of those who made the program! This 100-page special gathers together, for the first time anywhere, a huge array of interviews with those in front of and behind the cameras - from the entire 42-year run of the series. Including many never-before-seen photos, this is a must-have for Doctor Who fans, and a great introduction to the series for newcomers." According to the site, this will be out in November. (Thanks to Robin Shannon)

FILTER: - Magazines - DWM

Box Set Commentaries

Tuesday, 16 August 2005 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

Commentaries have been recorded for the forthcoming Doctor Who Series One Box Set due out in November. DWM notes the following commentaries have been recorded for each of the 13 episodes (noting that one, "The Long Game" had not yet been recorded at press time):

Rose - Exec producers Russell T Davies and Julie Gardner, producer Phil Collinson
The End of the World - Collinson, Will Cohen (visual effects)
The Unquiet Dead - Mark Gatiss (writer), Euros Lyn (director), Simon Callow (Charles Dickens)
Aliens of London - Gardner, Cohen, David Verrey (Joseph Green)
World War Three - Collinson, Helen Raynor (script editor), Annette Badland (Margaret Blaine)
Dalek - Rob Shearman (writer), Dave Houghton (VFX supervisor), Nicholas Briggs (Dalek voices), Bruno Langley (Adam)
The Long Game - Langley, Brian Grant (director), Christine Adams (Cathica)
Father's Day - Paul Cornell (writer), Billie Piper (Rose), Shaun Dingwall (Pete), Collinson
The Empty Child and The Doctor Dances - Steven Moffat (writer), John Barrowman (Jack), Houghton
Boom Town - Collinson, Barrowman, Badland
Bad Wolf - Davies, Gardner, Collinson
The Parting of the Ways - Barrowman, Gardner, Piper

FILTER: - DWM - Series 1/27 - Blu-ray/DVD

Doctor Who Magazine 360

Monday, 15 August 2005 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

Issue 360 of Doctor Who Magazine is not only due... in fact, it's out (at least to subscribers). Here's the release info about this edition (with thanks to Clay Hickman and Tom Spilsbury).

Find out more about the new-look Tenth Doctor - including some exclusive images not seen anywhere else - in the latest issue of the official Doctor Who Magazine!

In this month's edition, executive producer Russell T Davies chats about new Doctor Who, David Tennant, in the second part of our exclusive interview: "David worked very closely with our new costume designer, Louise Page, on the Tenth Doctor's look. We've been talking loose ties, scruffy jackets and sneakers for months now. It's good to see them at last! It's a little bit punk, a bit scruffy, a bit student-y, even a bit schoolboy-ish, and yet with the smartness of a suit thrown in. Oh, and I can't tell you the days and days and days of work that went into getting the right pinstripe!"

Meanwhile, Rose's mum - alias Camille Coduri - chats about Jackie's close encounters; production designer Ed Thomas talks about his designs for the Doctor's universe; and there's a quick chat with Elisabeth Sladen about her imminent return as Sarah Jane Smith!

On top of this, Gallifrey Guardian reports all the latest news from the Doctor Who set - including exclusive casting news, and more info on November's DVD box set - and an old favourite returns to DWM's pages after many years away!

Plus there's the second part of the new comic strip adventure The Cruel Sea written by Dalek author Robert Shearman; the results of the 2004 DWM survey; reviews of Boom Town, Bad Wolf and The Parting of the Ways - and all the usual features.

DWM 360 goes on sale on Thursday 18 August, priced Ãº3.99.

FILTER: - Magazines - DWM

Casting Plus Other News and Rumors

Monday, 15 August 2005 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

A few items of note making the rounds today: according to the latest issue of Doctor Who magazine, "The Sunshine Camp" is notthe title for the first episode (though of course, it doesn't say what that title actually is...) The rest of it what's transpired is mostly casting and other rumors making the rounds, so we've protected them in the spoiler tags below; click on it to read.

Shaun Dingwall, who played Rose's father Pete Tyler in the first series this spring, apparently told several people at a recent photo signing that he might be in negotiations to return to the show for the second series, at least in a cameo appearance. There is currently no word on whether this is happening or which episode it would be, although there are rumors that it could be the final episode of the season.

John Barrowman is confirmed by DWM 360 to not be returning for the second series at all.

According to several reports based on an original comment in the Daily Star, Chris Evans, the former husband of Billie Piper, may be in the next season. "Doctor Who producers are reportedly trying to convince Chris Evans to make a guest appearance in the next series of the hit BBC One sci-fi show. The radio DJ would star as the Devil in an episode called The Satan Pit, when the show returns for a second series next year, the Daily Star claims. Evans' estranged wife Billie Piper already stars as Doctor Who's sidekick Rose Tyler in the series but, as they remain on good terms, the paper claims that his appearance as the Devil wouldn't be a hellish experience for the pair. An unnamed source told the Daily Star: 'We've already got some great celebrities lined up for the next series, but having Chris Evans would be the icing on the cake. Having him as Satan would be a hoot and we're sure he'd relish the role. And we know Billie would find it a giggle.'" Also reported at DeHavilland, ITN, Digital Spy.

Also, there are rumors that Anthony Stewart Head, who according to the latest issue of Doctor Who Magazine is playing Mr. Finch in episode three, "School Reunion," may not only be the head master of the school... but the Master. So says the Daily Star: "The super-villain, who was first played by the late Roger Delgado in the 1970s, will return in the next series. And insiders predict he will be played by Buffy The Vampire Slayer star Anthony Head, who was once tipped to play Doctor Who himself. The handsome star, 49, a regular in comedy smash Little Britain as the Prime Minister, was recently recruited to the Who cast by executive producer Russell T Davies. But nobody at the BBC will talk in detail about who he will be playing. Last night a series insider said: 'We can't say anything, other than confirm that Anthony Head is going to feature in an episode called School Reunion, in which he'll play the Headmaster.'" We're reliably reassured these are only rumors, though, and not based on truth, especially since the Daily Star article quotes "internet fan forums" (and we all know which internet fan forums they pay attention to...)

Finally... yes, we know Torchwood, which we reported the other day as being the potential word Russell T Davies referred to in his DWM production notes as being season two's "Bad Wolf", is an anagram for Doctor Who. As reported, the BBC registered a torchwood web address, so we may be onto something here...

FILTER: - Magazines - DWM

Previous 10 Stories

Doctor Who Magazine 362

News Clips

New Series Update

TV Series Update

Doctor Who Magazine 361

More on DWM Special

Next DWM Special

Box Set Commentaries

Doctor Who Magazine 360

Casting Plus Other News and Rumors

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