Departure for the Ponds

Friday, 16 December 2011 - Reported by Marcus

Doctor Who Showrunner Steven Moffat has announced that the next series of Doctor Who will see the departure of Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill when the story of Amy and Rory comes to an end.

Speaking at the press screening of the Christmas Episode, The Doctor The Widow and The Wardrobe, Moffat confirmed that the duo will rejoin the Doctor in the TARDIS for the next series of the show, but that sometime during the series the couple's story will come to a heartbreaking end.

Moffat teased that he wouldn't say when, and certainly not how, the couple would leave, but that it would happen during the series and then their story would be over.

Matt Smith was asked if he would be sad to see Gillan leave.

Yes, absolutely…and Arthur. We’ve had the most incredible journey and we took over the show and we really had to sort of hold hands and help each other through it in many ways. So, yeah, it’s very disappointing. But, you know, one has to sort of remember that this show is about change and regeneration and that’s what galvanises it and pushes it forward and it’s about looking forward always

A new companion, who has yet to be cast, will be joining the Doctor.

The press launch was held in Studio One at Television Centre in London, where many episodes of the classic series of Doctor Who were recorded. It was attended by a specially invited audience, including several MPs including Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls and, reportedly, Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne.

For a full report, including an audio clip of the announcement, see Life of Wylie.

FILTER: - Steven Moffat - Special Events - Arthur Darvill - Karen Gillan

Two Doctor Who episodes recovered!

Sunday, 11 December 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster

The BBC revealed today that two complete episodes of Doctor Who have been returned to the BBC Archives.

Firstly, the complete third episode of the William Hartnell story Galaxy 4, Air Lock has been recovered - prior to this only a short segment from the first episode remained in the archive with no telesnaps taken to show how the third episode and its characters would have looked.

Clip from Air Lock, via the BBC Doctor Who site (may not play outside United Kingdom)

Secondly, the complete second episode of Patrick Troughton's third story The Underwater Menace has also been recovered - making this the earliest complete episode for the Second Doctor to now exist in the Archives (alongside the existing episode three).

Clip from The Underwater Menace episode 2, via the BBC Doctor Who site (may not play outside United Kingdom)

Both episodes were found via former TVS engineer Terry Burnett, who bought them at a school fête in Marchwood, Southampton back in the 1980s! Restoration Team member Ralph Montagu told the Radio Times how they came to his attention:

I occasionally meet up with a group of film collectors and retired TV engineers at a café in Hampshire. A few months ago I spoke to Terry Burnett, who used to be an engineer at TVS [the former ITV franchise based in Southampton]. Somehow Doctor Who was mentioned in passing, and Terry said, ‘Oh, actually I think I’ve got an old episode. I thought it was bound to be something we’ve got already,” says Ralph. “I tried not to get too excited, but he came back the next day and brought this spool with him. It had no label, so I had a look at the film leader and it said ‘Air Lock’. I thought, ‘What’s that?’ I checked online and saw that Air Lock was an episode of Galaxy 4 - a missing Hartnell serial. So then I got very excited.

(meeting with Terry a couple of weeks later) And he said, ‘Guess what I’ve got.’ It was another episode of Doctor Who! Again not labelled on the can, but it turned out to be The Underwater Menace part two.”

Read the full article at the Radio Times website.

Both episodes were shown this afternoon at the British Film Institute's Missing Believed Wiped event - the first time they've been seen in the United Kingdom since their original transmission! (Air Lock was originally seen on 25th September 1965, with The Underwater Menace episode two on 21st January 1967) Screen shots from the episodes may be seen in the BBC's Doctor Who Adventure Calendar Day 11.

News report from the BFI by Ed Stradling, via YouTube

The episodes will require restoration work before they can be commercially released, with film damage to be repaired and missing censored clips to be re-instated. An announcement will be made by 2|Entertain next year as to when they are likely to appear on DVD. Meanwhile, the previous existing material for both stories can be found on the Lost in Time DVD boxed set.

These are the first full episodes to have been recovered since the 1965 Daleks' Master Plan episode Day of Armageddon turned up back in 2004, and brings the total missing episodes tally to 106.

Time to search those attics for more episodes!

(newslink: BBC Doctor Who, BBC News, Radio Times)

FILTER: - Special Events - William Hartnell - Classic Series - Patrick Troughton

"Oh Yes It Is!"

Monday, 5 December 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster

The great British Christmas tradition of pantomime is upon us once more, and as usual a number of shows around the country feature notable names from the world of Doctor Who:

Colin Baker (The Sixth Doctor)
Jack and the Beanstalk, Palace Theatre, Mansfield
Also features Christopher Pizzey (Eddie Smith, The Sarah Jane Adventures)
3rd December - 8th January

Starring Doctor Who's Colin Baker as Fleshcreep, Chris Pizzey (The Basil Brush Show) as Simple Simon, Emma Nowell (Hi-5) and Jack, and Stephen David as Dame Trott.

Colin returns to panto land this Christmas to reprise his acclaimed role as the giant's henchman Fleshcreep.

John Barrowman (Captain Jack)
Robinson Crusoe and the Caribbean Pirates, Glasgow SECC
17th December - 7th January

Following Aladdin, our 5-star pantomime last Christmas, we are delighted that John Barrowman and The Krankies will return to our stage for the forthcoming pantomime season to lead the cast of the swashbuckling adventure Robinson Crusoe and the Caribbean Pirates.

John Barrowman is to play the title role of Robinson Crusoe with Glasgow pantomime favourites, The Krankies, to play Captain Crusoe & Jimmy Crusoe!

The use of 3D in Aladdin was such a huge hit with audiences that the show’s producers, Qdos Entertainment - the largest panto producer in the world, are creating brand-new and even more spectacular 3D which will feature in Robinson Crusoe and the Caribbean Pirates.

Bonnie Langford (Mel)
Jack and the Beanstalk, Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford
Also features Royce Mills (Dalek voices)
2nd December - 8th January

Following her triumphant success on Broadway starring in Chicago, Surrey-born actress, dancer and entertainer Bonnie Langford will star as Fairy Fuchsia, leading a truly fabulous cast in this year’s magical family pantomime.

Bonnie is joined on stage by one of the country’s top cabaret performers; the inimitable Kit Hesketh-Harvey. Kit has made many appearances on the Yvonne Arnaud stage as one half of the hilarious comedy duo, Kit & The Widow. Guaranteed to make you laugh, he makes his pantomime debut as mischievous Dastardly Dick.

And the boys are back and full of beans! Surrey and Hampshire’s favourite breakfast show host, Eagle Radio’s Peter Gordon in all his regal splendour returns as The King, whilst the multi-talented Lloyd Hollett brings his charm and charisma as Simple Simon and Guildford favourite Royce Mills is ready with his wonderful wardrobe as Dame Trott.

After her enchanting performance as our Aladdin in 2008, Emma Thornett returns to Guildford to play the title role of Jack this Christmas. A hugely talented performer, she created the role of Mary in the original production of David Essex’s All the Fun of the Fair, and starred in Blood Brothers in the West End.

Frazer Hines (Jamie McCrimmon)
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Embassy Theatre, Skegness
14th - 31st December

JAMIE MARCUS PRODUCTIONS, well known for its high standards and incredible shows, bring the most magical and spectacular festive pantomime to the Embassy Theatre, Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs

This wonderful well-loved tale, which was made famous by the 1937 Disney film, has all your favourite characters. Can Snow White meet the Prince of her dreams or will the evil Queen stop her? Laugh at the outrageous 'Nurse Knickerbocker' and the very silly 'Muddles', and sing-along with the loveable dwarfs.

For the first time ever in Lincolnshire, the amazing interactive 'Face of the Mirror' comes alive and leaves you spellbound! Will you be the one to ask him a question?

Don't miss the magic!

Other names associated with Doctor Who include: Brian Blessed (Yrcanos, Mindwarp) (voice) in Jack and the Beanstalk at the Gala Durham; John Challis (Scorby, The Seeds of Doom) in Aladdin at The Playhouse, Weston Supermere; Leslie Grantham (Kiston, Resurrection of the Daleks) and Terrence Hardiman (Hawthorne, The Beast Below) in Mother Goose at the Stag Theatre, Sevenoaks; Nigel Havers (Peter Dalton, The Wedding of Sarah Jane Smith) in Peter Pan at The Hawth, Crawley; Marshall Lancaster (Buzzer, The Almost People) in Aladdin at the Palace Theatre, Newark; Guy Siner (Ravon, Genesis of the Daleks) in Cinderella at The Lighthouse, Poole; and Christopher Biggins (The One Doctor, Big Finish) in Robinson Crusoe and the Caribbean Pirates at the New Theatre, Cardiff.

FILTER: - Special Events

Children in Need tonight

Friday, 18 November 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster

With all the excitement brewing for the Doctor's latest appearance tonight in Children in Need, we thought it would be worth providing a brief reminder of the cause it is in aid of:

BBC Children in Need provides grants to projects in the UK which focus on children and young people who are disadvantaged. It is local to people in all corners of the UK and supports small and large organisations which empower children and extend their life choices.

The grant programmes are open all year round for applications, with a focus on allocating the money to deserving projects 4 times a year. To find out more about grant programmes, to apply for a grant or to hear how some children's lives have been changed for the better, visit 'Change Lives'

Every penny from the money you raise or donate will go towards helping disadvantaged children and young people right here in the UK. Children in Need is able to make this promise because it uses investment income and Gift Aid to cover all running costs, meaning that you can be sure your money makes a real difference.

"So far you have helped to raise over £600 million and you never cease to amaze us with your fabulous fundraising events and generous donations. However, there are still so many children that need your help. This year's Appeal promises to be bigger and better than ever before so make sure you get involved and help us to make a difference to children who need our help the most, especially in such tough economic times."

Doctor Who has often featured as part of the Children in Need evening, including the premier broadcasts of the special episodes The Five Doctors (1983), Dimensions in Time (1993), "Born Again" (2005) and Time Crash (2007), plus a Dead Ringers special (2003) and a number of previews, including the forthcoming Christmas Special whose name is to be revealed tonight. Last year featured a special tea party within the TARDIS, and tonight the Doctor is even losing his clothes for the cause!

FILTER: - Special Events - Series 4/30 Specials - Charities

Children in Need update - Doctor's Costume for auction

Thursday, 17 November 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster

The BBC have released three promotional images of Matt Smith as the Doctor for tomorrow's Children in Need evening:

The special mini-episode was recorded yesterday at BBC Television Centre in London - the first time that the Doctor has been filmed there for an episode of Doctor Who since Ghostlight wrapped in 1989 - and directed by Richard Senior (Let's Kill Hitler). The episode, written by show-runner Steven Moffat, sees the Doctor offering viewers the chance to win his tweed jacket (as seen in The Doctor's Wife), bow-tie as well as other items, which will be added to the charity's online auction; the winning bidder will also receive a signed copy of the script.

Matt Smith said:

I'd say the tweed jacket or the bow-tie are the most iconic - although the boots are my personal favourite. I hope people donate generously for BBC Children in Need because it's a wonderful cause - and we've got to beat last year's total.

Items also in the auction include art work from the cast of The Sarah Jane Adventures: Tommy by Anjli Mohindra, Anjli by Tommy Knight, Odd Bob by Tommy Knight, Shansheeth, Anjli Mohindra, The Groske, Daniel Anthony and The Empty Planet, Anjli. There are also signed Pudsey Bear dolls from John Barrowman (Jack Harkness) and Jo Joyner (Lynda).

The auction closes on Monday.

The title of the Christmas Special is also to be revealed during the evening, with an exclusive preview of the episode scheduled for between 8:00-8:30pm.

DrWho Online are holding an auction to raise money for Children in Need, with a package including a signed poster by David Tennant, the Brilliant Book of Doctor Who 2012, the 2012 Doctor Who calendar, and many other items; full details and how to bid may be found on their website.
(with thanks to Sebastian J Brook)

FILTER: - Specials - Special Events

Mini-episode for Children in Need

Monday, 14 November 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster

The BBC have intimated via their Doctor Who Twitter feed that a mini-episode has been written to star Matt Smith as the Doctor for this coming Friday's Children in Need:

14:44 There's an extra special treat for Doctor Who fans on Friday’s
      Children in Need... Or at least there will be if things
      go according to plan!
15:25 Hurray! Things ARE going according to plan! Steven Moffat’s
      mini-script has just hit the in-boxes of a lucky few...
      Must look over shoulders…
16:44 Great! We can confirm that Matt Smith will be back in
      the bow-tie soon because the Doctor returns on Friday night
      in Children in Need.
17:59 We’ve seen the short script and it is NOT what you’d expect.
      Oh, it’s funny and fast and Doctorish and brilliant...
      but not what you’d expect...

A preview of this year's Christmas Special is due to be transmitted between 8:00-8:30pm on Friday evening.

FILTER: - Specials - Special Events - Charities

Children in Need: Doctor Who timeslot

Tuesday, 8 November 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster

The new issue of the Radio Times (12-18 Nov) confirms the time of the Christmas Special preview as being in the 8:00-8:30pm timeslot during this year's Children in Need on 18th November, promising "an exclusive treat from Doctor Who".

This is the same slot as broadcast last year - with Children in Need being a live show, the time can only be estimated and won't be known until during the programme itself!

The title of the episode itself is expected to be revealed in the next couple of weeks.

FILTER: - Special Events - Charities

Children in Need 2011: Christmas Preview

Thursday, 27 October 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster

The BBC Press Office have now released information for this year's Children In Need, confirming that the evening will feature a (now traditional!) clip of the forthcoming Doctor Who Christmas Special:

... Newsreaders Fiona Bruce, Emily Maitlis, Sophie Raworth and Sian Williams try their hand at ballroom and face Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli, Craig Revel Horwood and Alesha Dixon with their own Strictly Challenge. Nick Knowles is in the studio for DIY SOS – The Big Build to celebrate their biggest makeover to date, and there's an exclusive sneak peek at the Doctor Who Christmas special.

Full details about the night can be read in the press release - though no specific details about the clip have been mentioned, previous years have provided the audience with a teaser scene from early in the episode.

This year's Children in Need evening is on Friday 18th November, kicking off from 7:30pm on BBC1 and BBC1HD.

FILTER: - Special Events - Charities

Series Six DVD - Official Doctor Who themed Parties

Thursday, 27 October 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster

2|Entertain is launching the first official range of themed parties to celebrate the release of the Complete Doctor Who Series 6 on DVD and Blu-ray:

Scores of fans can sign up to host a Doctor Who themed party in their own home when the new initiative put together by marketing company Come Round launches this week. For aspiring young Doctors, Amys and Rorys these official party packages will the perfect way to celebrate their love of the show.

The first 400 to sign-up will receive an exclusive party pack containing official Doctor Who merchandise, tailored game suggestions, posters and more – the perfect kit to host the perfect party.

Furthermore, all the first 400 will be given exclusive access to stream special never-seen-before DVD extras before the DVD becomes available to the British public. The four Monster File previews are 10 to 15 minutes each and will be part of the exclusive pack given to the winners to share with guests of their party.

Launched just before the much anticipated boxset hits the shops, the first-ever official Doctor Who parties will take place on the 19th and 20th November 2011. For those not lucky enough to get a hosting pack, special ‘print at home’ kits will be available so anyone can don a bow tie or a River Song mask to join in the fun in their own home.

The Parties are only available to UK residents, who can sign up to join via the Come Round website. Full terms and conditions can be found on the website.

FILTER: - Special Events - UK - Blu-ray/DVD

Arts For Hearts Auction: Final Week

Wednesday, 28 September 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster

This week sees the final items of Doctor Who artwork up for auction by Arts For Hearts, the proceeds of which are donated to the Great Ormond Street Hospital to held fund research into organ transplants.

Concept artist Peter McKinstry has donated two A2 prints of K9, both of which have been signed by the artist and the voice of K9, John Leeson. Also up for auction is a page of original comic artwork from Doctor Who Adventures by John Ross