Children in Need: The Doctor's Auction

Saturday, 19 November 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Last night the Doctor put up his clothes for auction to raise money for Children in Need; the costume is available to bid on here, and at the time of writing has currently reached £22,100!

Other related items in the auction include signed Pudsey Bears by Matt Smith (currently £1,600) and John Barrowman (£240.50), plus signed artwork by the Sarah Jane Adventures cast with Tommy, Shansheeth and The Empty Planet by Anjli Mohindra, Anjli and Odd Bob by Tommy Knight, and The Groske by Daniel Anthony.



You can watch the Doctor's appeal (and the trailer for The Doctor, The Widow And The Wardrobe) below:


The Doctor on Children in Need, BBC, via YouTube

Donate here!





FILTER: - Specials - Charities - Auctions

Christmas Special title revealed

Friday, 18 November 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster
The title of this year's Doctor Who Christmas Special has been revealed tonight on Children in Need to be:

The Doctor, The Widow and the Wardrobe

The Doctor, The Widow and the Wardrobe Trailer, BBC, via BBC Website


Not surprisingly, the broadcast date of the episode has also been confirmed to be Christmas Day.

BBC Synopsis - may be considered a spoiler



Evacuated to a house in Dorset from war-torn London, Madge Arwell and her two children, Lily and Cyril, are greeted by a madcap caretaker whose mysterious Christmas gift leads them into a magical wintry world...




FILTER: - Specials

Big Finish: Jago and Litefoot Series 1 Offer

Friday, 18 November 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Big Finish are to offer the first series of the popular spin-off Jago and Litefoot for a special discount this weekend:

The acclaimed Doctor Who spin-off audio Jago and Litefoot has triumphed in the Doctor Who Magazine poll, with Series Two voted as the Best Big Finish Audio of 2010. Series One is close behind, coming in at joint Fifth.

To celebrate, for one weekend only, Big Finish is providing a special discount offer. On Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th November, the Series One box set will be available for just £20 on CD and download only at www.bigfinish.com

Jago and Litefoot stars Christopher Benjamin and Trevor Baxter, reprising their iconic roles from the 1977 story The Talons of Weng-Chiang. In the first series, which also features Lisa Bowerman, Conrad Asquith and Toby Longworth, the infernal investigators take on the sinister Doctor Tulp.
 




FILTER: - Audio - Big Finish

People Roundup

Friday, 18 November 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Matt Smith, Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill will be signing copies of The Complete Series Six Boxed Set at HMV at the Westfield Shopping Centre, Stratford, London on Monday 21st November; the signing takes place from 1:30pm and entry will be by wristband for the first 250 people applying from when the shop opens at 8:30am. The stars will also take part in a Q&A session with former Radio 1 presenter and fan Jo Whiley in the Gallery Area from 4:00pm. [BBC Worldwide/2Entertain]

David Tennant and Karen Gillan will be among those who will have their portraits displayed at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh when it re-opens to the public on 1st December. The "Hot Scots" collection will also feature other notable Scottish names including Sean Connery, James McAvoy, Gerard Butler and singer Paolo Nutini. [Herald Scotland, 17 Nov 2011]

Karen Gillan will also be presenting the award for Design at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards this coming Sunday. [Standard, 18 Nov 2011]

Eve Myles is interviewed in Saturday's Western Mail magazine, in which she also talks about why she left Hollywood to return to Wales: "I came back from LA specifically to do Baker Boys. I made a commitment when I did the first series and I followed it through. It’s got a cracking cast and superb director in Gareth Bryn. In the first series I was playing someone who had an easy time of it, but series two is about Sarah’s struggle and it’s been a joy to play" [Wales Online, 18 Nov 2011]

Bernard Cribbins has lent his support to a campaign to help residents in Surrey that are suffering from fuel 'poverty': "This is a simple but very effective idea and am delighted to be supporting it. With the help of the Community Foundation, the money raised will quickly find its way to those needing help with their winter bills this year." [Epsom Guardian, 15 Nov 2011]

Simon Pegg (The Editor, The Long Game) responded to comments about him possibly playing the Doctor in the proposed movie: "Why is everyone speculating about who should play the Doctor in the Doctor Who movie? Matt Smith is the Doctor, he should play him!! It's nice to be thought of but I do not want the part and would not accept if it were offered to me. I did my Who time and I died. The end." [Simon Pegg, via Twitter, 16 Nov 2011]

Mark Sheppard talks about the development of his character Canton: "I think I read an article where [Steven Moffat said] he was under some pressure to create a gay character who wasn't mincing around the screen. I mean, no disrespect to Captain Jack or anyone else at all, I'm being extreme in my stereotype, but I'm saying to have a character where being gay wasn't the singular identifier of the character, where the primary focus of the character is not what he's doing about being gay. ... A kid came up to me in a convention and said 'you know, Canton is the second-smartest man in the room', and I said 'really, why is that?' He said 'because he realises that the doctor is the smartest man in the room' - and I always thought was a very good way to put it." [Stuff, 15 Nov 2011]

Writer and long-term Doctor Who fan Naomi Alderman was interviewed about her novel, Borrowed Time, and when asked about the lack of Jewish and women writers for the series responded: "Hah! Actually, one of my favorite stories, The Masque of Mandragora, was written by a Jewish academic, Louis Marks. And Doctor Who was partly created by Verity Lambert, an inspirational feminist TV producer. I think you have to not choke yourself really, especially when creating. After five minutes of going, 'Hmm, not many people like me have done this,' you have to put it out of your mind and just do the best job you can." [Jewish Daily Forward, 16 Nov 2011]





FILTER: - People - Bernard Cribbins - Arthur Darvill - Karen Gillan - Matt Smith - David Tennant

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:
Pudsey, Children in NeedBBC 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!


Donate here!





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

Christmas Special Fast Tracked to Australia

Friday, 18 November 2011 - Reported by Marcus

ABC Australia has become the first broadcaster to confirm the scheduling of the 2011 Doctor Who Christmas Story.

The episode will be shown on ABC1 on Boxing Day (26 December), repeating last year's schedule when the episode was fast tracked to the Commonwealth just a few hours after its UK début.

No transmission date has yet been confirmed for the UK, the US or Canada.

In January ABC2 will will begin a repeat run of the entire revived series starting with Christopher Eccleston’s first appearance as the Doctor in Rose and running through every episode in order, including the Christmas specials.




FILTER: - Specials - Australia

Sega acquires Worlds in Time

Thursday, 17 November 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Sega has announced that it has acquired games developer Three Rings, the company that has partnered with BBC Worldwide to create an online virtual multi-user Doctor Who game world, Doctor Who: Worlds in Time.

Daniel James, CEO of Three Rings, said:
SEGA is also excited to be collaborating with us and the BBC to bring Doctor Who: Worlds in Time to completion. In particular, SEGA has a very strong presence in the UK, and many SEGA folks there are great fans of the show.


Worlds in Time was announced in February, with game described as being "both highly engaging and fun, allowing players to socialize and foster genuine cooperation, building a global community where fans worldwide will now be able to experience first hand the exciting action and adventure synonymous with Doctor Who."

Though originally slated for late this year, at present no announcement has been made for its launch date. Interested parties can sign up for details of a closed preview via the Worlds in Time website.


The full press release from Sega can be read here.





FILTER: - Online - Games

Doctor Who Magazine 441

Thursday, 17 November 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster
The new Doctor Who Magazine (out 17th November) visits Christmas, with an exclusive, in-depth interview with Doctor Who’s producer, Marcus Wilson:
It’s Christmas turned up to 12. It’s the most Christmassy Christmas Special we’ve ever seen. It’s a lovely, heart-warming, touching tale. It’s literally magical. It’s full of the usual concoction of things that spew out of Steven’s imagination. You’re going, ‘How can you have that and that in the same story?’ – and yet it works...

Also this issue:
  • Holding the Baby - DWM talks to Closing Time director, Steve Hughes, who reveals the secrets of turning a department store into a haunted house, giving the Cybermats teeth, and defending the honour of Adric!
  • Like Father, Like Son - DWM goes behind the scenes of Serpent Crest, AudioGO’s latest series of audio dramas featuring Tom Baker as the Fourth Doctor, and talks exclusively to David Troughton – who joins the cast to take on his father’s role as the Second Doctor!
  • Here's to the Future! - Executive producer Steven Moffat writes about experiencing Christmas in the snow, his plans for Doctor Who in 2012, and the series’ 50th anniversary, in Production Notes!
  • School Winners! - DWM joins the crew of Doctor Who Confidential and visits the pupils of Oakley Junior School to meet Matt Smith and watch their winning entry for the ‘Script to Screen’ competition, Death is the only Answer – featuring Albert Einstein and an Ood!
  • And the Winners Are ... - The results of the DWM merchandise poll for the most popular books, audios, and DVDs of 2010 are revealed at last – along with your views on DWM itself!
  • Shock Return - The Fact of Fiction is filled with fascinating facts and sinister Cybermen, as it focuses its attention on the much-loved Fifth Doctor adventure from 1982, Earthshock!
  • Let's have a Party ... or not? - As the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who approaches in 2013, how best to mark the occasion – celebrate the past with a multi-Doctor extravaganza or pave the way to the future with something new, original and completely unexpected? There’s only one way to decide… get debating duo Toby Hadoke and Johnny Candon to argue the toss in A Battle of Wits!
  • The Child of Time - The Doctor, Amy and Alan Turing face their ultimate encounter with the time-twisting Chiyoko in the thrilling climax to the Eleventh Doctor’s latest comic-strip adventure, The Child of Time by Jonathan Morris with art by Martin Geraghty.
  • Going Fourth - It’s the season that saw the return of the Daleks, the Cybermen and the Sontarans... and the very first appearance of Davros! Discover more as DWM’s Countdown to 50 looks back at 1974/5’s Series Twelve and the debut of Tom Baker as the Fourth Doctor.
  • It's all been fantastic! - The Time Team shed a tear as they reach the end of the Ninth Doctor era with The Parting of the Ways – what will Emma, Michael, Chris and Will make of the Time Lord’s encounter with the Dalek Emperor and the Bad Wolf?
PLUS! All the latest official news, reviews of TV and merchandise reviews, previews, competitions, a prize-winning crossword and much, much more!






FILTER: - DWM

Christmas Special: First Image

Thursday, 17 November 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster
The BBC have now released the first official image for the forthcoming Christmas Special, which is slated for Week 52 (Saturday 24th - Friday 30th December):



A preview for the episode is scheduled for between 8:00-8:30pm on Children in Need tomorrow evening, where the title will also be revealed.





FILTER: - Specials

Five year commercial plan for Doctor Who

Thursday, 17 November 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster
BBC Careers have published details for a role with BBC Worldwide as Commercial Director, Doctor Who:
This role is in the brand management team with responsibility for the Doctor Who brand specifically.

The Commercial Director is responsible for directing all commercial aspects of the brand, running its P&L, representing the brand internally and externally, and managing and protecting the brand in general.

In addition to approving products and communications relating to the brand, you'll also identify and develop new business opportunities, including creating and executing a five year plan for the brand.
 
The role is part of BBC Worldwide's Global Brands division, within the Adults Brands Team, which also looks after shows like Top Gear and Strictly Come Dancing/Dancing with the Stars. The position will be based at their London Media Centre and has a closing date of 22nd November. The full job description may be found here.


The role specifically refers to a "five year plan", which is good news for Doctor Who from a commercial perspective, though this does not indicate a further five years of the show itself, of course!





FILTER: - Production - BBC