UKTV Drama repeat run

Tuesday, 1 January 2008 - Reported by Marcus

Fans in the UK can catch up with the adventures of the fourth Doctor, Tom Baker, this January. The digital station UKTV Drama is repeating classic episodes daily, starting withRobot, the story that launched Tom Baker's incarnation in 1974. The programmes begin on the 2nd January and are broadcast at 12.20pm and are repeated at 5pm.

UKTV Drama is available on Sky Digital channel 133 and Virgin Media channel 129. It is not available on the Freeview platform.

Thanks to Robert Franks




FILTER: - Classic Series - Broadcasting

Voyage of the Damned teaser

Saturday, 8 December 2007 - Reported by Anthony Weight
BBC One tonight screened a short, 10-second teaser trailer for the forthcoming Christmas special Voyage of the Damned (except for viewers in Scotland, who had their own trailers). The short series of three clips showed first the Doctor, then Astrid and then a special effects shot of the Titanic itself.

The clip is available to view on the official BBC website (behind door 8 of the advent calendar). If you are in the United Kingdom you can also see the trailer on the official BBC YouTube channel.

A two minute trailer for Voyage of the Damned is also being shown in UK cinemas.




FILTER: - Specials - Broadcasting

Voyage of the Damned: 71 Minutes

Thursday, 6 December 2007 - Reported by Anthony Weight

The official BBC Doctor Who website has announced that the forthcoming Christmas special, Voyage of the Damned, will be 71 minutes long - longer than either of the two previous festive episodes, and the longest single episode of the programme since its return in 2005.

The site confirms the start time for the episode - 6.50pm on BBC 1 on Christmas Day, Tuesday the 25th of December. The episode will also be repeated on New Year's Day at 2.15pm, and with in-vision signing for the deaf at 1.15am on December 27th.

The BBC have also revealed that a brand-new one-hour Doctor Who Confidential, listed as a Kylie Special, will be shown on BBC 3 on Christmas Day. The programme starts at 8.30pm and is to be repeated at 2:25am.




FILTER: - Specials - Broadcasting

First glimpse of Voyage of the Damned

Saturday, 1 December 2007 - Reported by Chuck Foster

BBC One aired the first of its Christmas trailers this evening, between Strictly Come Dancing and Robin Hood, which presented a montage of clips for forthcoming shows in the yuletide season. Amongst the scenes were those of the Doctor, Astrid (Kylie Minogue), and the TARDIS in flight.

The countdown has truly begun!




FILTER: - Specials - Broadcasting

Sarah Jane Adventures coming to Canada

Wednesday, 28 November 2007 - Reported by Mike Doran
Canadian digital cable channel BBC Kids has announced that The Sarah Jane Adventureswill be coming to the channel in January 2008. The run starts with the premiere of the hour-long pilot "Invasion Of The Bane" on Sunday, January 13th at 9:00pm EST (repeated at 4:00am EST). Thereafter BBC Kids will run two episodes back-to-back every Sunday at 9:00pm EST with repeats at 4:00am EST.




FILTER: - Canada - Sarah Jane - Broadcasting

Voyage Of the Damned

Tuesday, 27 November 2007 - Reported by Marcus
The BBC Press Office has released information about the Doctor Who Christmas Special 2007.

Kylie Minogue steps back in time this festive season, as she joins Time Lord David Tennant for a spectacular Doctor Who Christmas Special set on board The Titanic.

At the end of the last series, viewers witnessed the [sic] The Titanic crash through the Tardis walls in spectacular style, and the action continues from that moment.

Kylie, who plays Astrid, a waitress on The Titanic, says: "It is an incredible thrill to be joining David and the entire Dr Who production for this year's Christmas special. Dr Who enjoys a unique history and it is going to be very exciting to be a part of that."

Two of Britain's best-loved sitcom actors, Geoffrey Palmer and Clive Swift, also feature in this Christmas episode.

Palmer, perhaps most famous for his roles in the long-running BBC series Butterflies and As Time Goes By, plays the role of Captain of The Titanic.

Kylie Minogue stars as Astrid, alongside David Tennant as The Doctor.

Voyage Of The Damned also features Gray O'Brien, who recently appeared in the Oscar-winning film The Queen; Debbie Chazen, star of the BBC comedy series The Smoking Room; Olivier Award-winner Clive Rowe; Russell Tovey, from the smash-hit film The History Boys; Jimmy Vee, who previously appeared in Doctor Who as the Moxx of Balhoon; and George Costigan, who starred in The Long Firm and the acclaimed film Rita, Sue And Bob Too.

Voyage of the Damned can be seen on BBC1 this Christmas.




FILTER: - Specials - Press - Broadcasting

Torchwood Season Two on BBC America

Tuesday, 20 November 2007 - Reported by R Alan Siler

In a press release today, BBC America issued the following statement:

"BBC AMERICA's all-time highest rated show, Torchwood, is back with a U.S. premiere second season, beginning January 26, 9:00pm ET/PT. Created by Russell T Davies, lead writer on the current Doctor Who series, Torchwood (13 x 60) is a BBC Production, distributed by BBC Worldwide."

Torchwood is set to debut on BBC2 "early 2008", and the press release describes the show's American airing as "close to its UK premiere".

The 7-disk Season One box set is set for release in America during that same week, on January 22nd.

The entire press release appears below:
JANUARY IS TORCHWOOD MONTH WITH THE RETURN OF BBC AMERICA'S HIT SCI-FI SHOW AND DVD RELEASE

BBC AMERICA's all-time highest rated show, Torchwood, is back with a U.S. premiere second season, beginning January 26, 9:00pm ET/PT. Created by Russell T Davies, lead writer on the current Doctor Who series, Torchwood (13 x 60) is a BBC Production, distributed by BBC Worldwide.

With guest stars including James Marsters (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Smallville), Alan Dale (Ugly Betty, The OC) and Doctor Who's Freema Agyeman, the show will air close to its UK premiere.

Richard De Croce, VP Programming, BBC AMERICA says: Torchwood has legions of loyal fans in the U.S. and we wanted to bring them the next season as soon as possible.

And fresh from its critically acclaimed airing on BBC AMERICA in September, Torchwood: The Complete First Season goes on sale January 22. The 7-disc DVD set includes over 6 hours of bonus features including outtakes and cast interviews.

Torchwood is an action-packed, adrenalin-fuelled sci-fi series following the adventures of a team of investigators, lead by Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman), who use alien technology to solve crime. With fearsome new aliens and compelling storylines the second season takes the close-knit Torchwood team through dare-devil action, temptation, heartache and a life changing event for one of the team.

Hollywood Reporter called it "...a crackling good, brilliantly conceived sci-fi series that targets actual grown-ups" while the Philadelphia Inquirer said it was "...super-slick, raw, bizarre, hilarious, spooky, scary and sublimely sexy."

BBC AMERICA brings audiences a new generation of award-winning television featuring razor-sharp comedies, provocative dramas, life-changing makeovers and news with a uniquely global perspective. BBC AMERICA pushes the boundaries to deliver high quality, highly addictive and eminently watchable programming to viewers who demand more. BBC AMERICA is distributed by Discovery Networks. It is available on digital cable and satellite TV. For more information about BBC AMERICA visit www.bbcamerica.com.




FILTER: - Torchwood - USA - Broadcasting

BBC to sell TV Centre; Doctor Who safe

Thursday, 18 October 2007 - Reported by Josiah Rowe
Mark Thompson, the director general of the BBC, has announced plans for major cuts at the BBC, including the sale of Television Centre by the end of the 2012-2013 financial year. The complex was one of the world's first purpose-built TV studios and the home of Doctor Who production from 1966-89. The sale of the property is planned as part of a series of cuts proposed to fund digital switch-over in the UK. In a speech to BBC staff today, Thompson declined to discuss how his proposals, which also include a 10% reduction of new programme commissions and a predicted rise in repeats, will affect the BBC's commercial wing, BBC Worldwide.

However, the BBC has confirmed that one of its priorities after the cuts will be television drama, and specifically mentioned Doctor Who as an example of the programmes on which the BBC will focus:
Television drama: prioritising high-impact, distinctive drama series of wide appeal and range, from classic drama such as this autumn's new five-part drama serial Cranford starring Judi Dench to modern drama that captures the imagination of audiences, such as Life On Mars, Doctor Who and Spooks.

A BBC press release about the planned changes can be found here; BBC News covers the story (including BBC staff reactions) here and here.




FILTER: - Production - Broadcasting - BBC

Start Date for Sarah Jane

Wednesday, 12 September 2007 - Reported by Jarrod Cooper

The BBC have announced that The Sarah Jane Adventures will begin broadcasting on Monday, September 24th at 5:00 pm. On Sunday the 23rd, CBBC will be repeating the New Year's specialInvasion of the Bane. The first story of the series will be Revenge of the Slitheen by Gareth Roberts.
Sarah Jane Smith, investigative journalist and former companion to The Doctor, is back in a brand-new CBBC drama from the makers of Doctor Who. And in the first two-part story of the series she faces some familiar alien enemies of The Doctor as the Slitheen are back and out for revenge...

On their first day at their new school Maria and Luke soon realise that all is not as it seems. There's a funny smell, the food keeps going off, the teachers keep farting and the new technology block is hiding some dark secrets.

With their suspicions aroused, Sarah Jane, Maria and Luke set about investigating, joined by their new friend Clyde. They soon discover that the Slitheen have disguised themselves as teachers as part of a deadly plan which threatens the future of the Earth.

But as Maria, Luke and Clyde become trapped in the new technology block in the clutches of the Slitheen and with Sarah Jane under attack from another of the alien monsters, will the gang be able to stop the Slitheen before it's too late?




FILTER: - Sarah Jane - Broadcasting

Canada: Doctor Who pre-empted again this week

Monday, 10 September 2007 - Reported by Mike Doran

Doctor Who is being pre-empted again this week by theCanadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)due to the live broadcast of the 2007 Canadian Country Music Awards. The live broadcast from Regina, Saskatchewan would have affected the broadcast of Doctor Who across most of the country.

Doctor Who was also pre-empted in parts of Canada last week due to Labour Day CFL Football broadcasts in some timezones. Areas that were not affected by the live football saw a repeat of the episode Gridlock.

Doctor Who will return to the CBC on Monday September 17th with the episode Utopia.




FILTER: - Canada - Broadcasting