Torchwood: BBC responds to complaints

Wednesday, 10 August 2011 - Reported by Marcus

The BBC has issued a response to a small number of complaints recieved from viewers who feel there is too much gay content in Torchwood.

Under the BBC Editorial and General Complaints process the corporation aims to respond to formal complaints within 10 working days.

BBC Response
We have strict Editorial Guidelines which govern the content of our programmes, and Torchwood is no exception.

These clearly state: "In all BBC output the portrayal of sex, or the exploration of sexual issues, should be editorially justified and treated with appropriate sensitivity. In post-watershed content, we must be able to justify the frank and realistic portrayal of sex and the exploration of themes and issues which some people might find offensive."

Captain Jack Harkness is an established character in the series. The audience over the previous series of Torchwood have known him to be promiscuous and bi-sexual so we felt the content was justified in terms of the context and characters and would be within the expectations of regular viewers. We aim to depict relationships whether heterosexual or homosexual in an honest and realistic way. These scenes are not meant to cause offence.

Last month the BBC confirmed that the UK versions of Episode Three had been slightly edited to remove some of the more graphic sexual images, both gay and straight, from the story.

FILTER: - Torchwood - Miracle Day (Series 4) - BBC

Doctor Who Experience Workshops

Wednesday, 10 August 2011 - Reported by Marcus

A number of special workshops are being helps over the summer holiday at the Doctor Who Experience in London.

Last Friday the editorial team from Doctor Who Adventures magazine held a special Behind the Scenes masterclass. The magazine team ran four interactive one-hour sessions, during which they showed over 100 youngsters how to go about making a weekly magazine.

The masterclass gave an insight into all aspects of magazine publishing, from designing a magazine cover to deciding on the ideal free gift. Each session was lead by Doctor Who Adventures editor, Natalie Barnes, while there was also a special guest appearance from comic designer John Ross, who has designed a comic strip for every issue of the magazine since it launched over four years ago.

Natalie Barnes said, "We had a lot of fun at the Doctor Who Experience on Friday. The workshop was a great opportunity for us to meet with fans of Doctor Who Adventures and to show them how we put the magazine together. We were really impressed by their creativity– they’ll be after our jobs soon.”

Further events are planned over the next couple of weeks. There is no extra charge for these events,but due to high demand it is advisable to obtain tickets in advance.

Friday 12th August
‘Walk Like a Monster’ Masterclasses
Throughout the day, Ailsa Berk, choreographer for Doctor Who, will be hosting live ‘Walk Like A Monster’ Masterclasses. Come and learn how to walk and move like of some of the Doctors scariest enemies including the Cybermen and the Scarecrows!

Wednesday 24th August
Silurian Prosthetics Demonstrations
This is a chance to discover the secrets behind how the Doctor Who team create the Silurians with a live monster makeup and prosthetics demonstration. Featured in the most recent episode of the show ‘A Good Man Goes to War’, the Silurians were Earth's first intelligent inhabitants, cold-blood reptilians with a lifespan of over three centuries who developed a civilisation at least 300 million years before human beings evolved.

FILTER: - Exhibitions

2011 Season Refresher

Wednesday, 10 August 2011 - Reported by Marcus

BBC America has released a season refresher containing highlights from the first half of Season 32.

The second half of the series begins on the channel on Saturday 27th August.

FILTER: - Doctor Who - Series 6/32

This Week in Doctor Who

Wednesday, 10 August 2011 - Reported by Marcus

Since 1998, This Week in Doctor Who has provided a valuable record of Doctor Who transmissions from around world.

Creator and maintainer Benjamin F. Elliott stepped down from compiling the list earlier this year, and Doctor Who News would like to keep his work going by providing a detailed list of where and when you can watch Doctor Who, Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures.

To do so we need the help of contributors who would be willing to update our database on a regular basis. We are looking for people who would be willing to take on responsibility for updating a particular channel, especially in countries where we are not represented at present. In return you will get a name credit on the TWIDW page.

If you would like to help please end us an email to twidw@doctorwhonews.net stating which channel you would be able to update and in which country you live.

FILTER: - Editorial

UK DVD release update

Monday, 8 August 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster

2|Entertain have released cover art and content details for the forthcoming UK DVDs of Third Doctor adventures Day of the Daleks (due 9th September) and Colony in Space (Amazon reports 3rd October, DWM reports 24th October).

Day of the Daleks
Release Date: 9th September 2011 (available for pre-order)

Starring Jon Pertwee as Doctor Who, with Katy Manning as Jo Grant
Written by Louis Marks
Directed by Paul Bernard

Broadcast: 1st January - 22 January 1972

World peace hangs in the balance and Sir Reginald Styles, a high-ranking diplomat, is the only person that stands between mankind and a third and final World War. But a mysterious and savage guerrilla force from the 22nd Century believe Styles is the agent that shaped their terrifying future and therefore must die...

The Doctor and Jo find themselves flung into the guerrillas’ world; a brutal dictatorship policed by the merciless and ape-like Ogrons. The Daleks have invaded Earth, enslaved the population and face certain triumph unless the Doctor betrays all he believes in and condones the cold-blooded murder of Styles in an attempt to change the course of history... forever.

Special Features

Disk 1

4 x 25 mins approx colour episodes with mono audio (Original Version).
Commentary - stereo. With actors Anna Barry and Jim Winston, producer Barry Letts, script editor Terrance Dicks and vision mixer Mike Catherwood.
Blasting the Past (dur. 30’ 30”) – cast and crew look back on the making of this story. With actors Katy Manning, Jimmy Winston and Anna Barry, producer Barry Letts, script editor Terrance Dicks, monster maker John Friedlander, Dalek operator Ricky Newby, Dalek voice artiste Nicholas Briggs, classic series writer Ben Aaronovitch, new series writer Paul Cornell and Doctor Who Magazine writer Dave Owen.
A View from the Gallery – producer Barry Letts and vision mixer Mike Catherwood talk about the art of vision mixing on a multi-camera studio show like Doctor Who.
Nationwide – a report from a primary school on the day they took delivery of a Dalek, first prize in a Radio Times competition.
Blue Peter – presenter Peter Purves remembers his time as a companion to William Hartnell’s Doctor and is joined in the studio by a trio of Daleks.
Photo Gallery - production, design and publicity photos from the story.

Disk 2

4 x 25 mins approx colour episodes with mono audio (Special Edition).
The Making of Day of the Daleks – Special Edition – producer Steve Broster guides us through the creation of his Special Edition of this story. With voice artiste Nicholas Briggs, audio engineer Mark Ayres, cameraman John Kelly, Dalek builder Toby Chamberlain, UNIT soldier Kevan Looseley and Ogron Nick Nicholson.
Now and Then – the latest instalment of our long-running series revisits the locations used in Day of the Daleks to see how much or little they have changed over the years. Narrated by Toby Hadoke.
The UNIT Family – Part Two – the second instalment of our series looking at the Doctor’s years on Earth as scientific advisor to the United Nations Intelligence Taskforce and the strong family bonds created during that time. With Katy Manning, Barry Letts, Terrance Dicks, actors Nicholas Courtney, John Levene, Richard Franklin and Fernanda Marlowe, stuntman Derek Ware.
The UNIT Dating Conundrum – over the years, many fans have tried to rationalise the chronological setting of the UNIT stories from clues within the narrative, despite the obstacles seemingly put in their way by the production team. Narrator Toby Hadoke explains why dating the stories is so difficult, assisted by Terrance Dicks, Dave Owen, Nicholas Briggs and Ben Aaronovitch.
The Cheating Memory – Special Edition producer Steve Broster tries to discover why the reality of Day of the Daleks doesn’t quite live up to the memory he has of first seeing it, aged six. With psychologist Dr. Sarita Robinson, Nicholas Briggs and Ben Aaronovitch.

Colony in Space
Release Date: 3rd or 24th October 2011 (available for pre-order)

Starring Jon Pertwee as Doctor Who, with Katy Manning as Jo Grant
Written by Malcolm Hulke
Directed by Michael Briant

Broadcast: 10th April - 15 May 1971

The Time Lords discover that the Master has stolen their secret file on the Doomsday Weapon and decide to send the Doctor to retrieve it for them.

The TARDIS takes the Doctor and Jo to the desolate planet Uxarieus in the year 2472. There they become involved in a dispute between some beleaguered colonists and the crew of an Interplanetary Mining Corporation (IMC) spaceship over the ownership rights to the planet. The Doctor learns that the indigenous Primitives and their High Priests worship a large machine tended by a creature called the Guardian.

The single disc release features remastered versions of all six episodes, and includes the restoration of four seconds of material missing from the original VHS release of the story.

Special Features

Commentary - cast members Katy Manning (Jo Grant), Bernard Kay (Caldwell), Morris Perry (Dent), plus Michael Briant (director), Terrance Dicks (script editor), and Graeme Harper (assistant floor manager); moderated by Toby Hadoke
IMC Needs You! - documentary on the making of the story, featuring Katy Manning, Bernard Kay, Michael Briant, Graeme Harper, plus producer Barry Letts.
From the Cutting Room Floor - trims from the location and model filming, including annotations
Coming Soon - a trailer for a forthcoming DVD release
Programme subtitles
Subtitle Production Notes
Photo Gallery - production, design and publicity photos from the story
Radio Times Listings in Adobe PDF format

The BBFC have passed a trailer for a 2012 boxed set, The UNIT Box; no other details are known about this at present.

The remaining stories involving the Doctor's "earth-based family" that have yet to be announced include The Ambassadors of Death, The Mind of Evil, The Daemons, Invasion of the Dinosaurs, Terror of the Zygons and The Android Invasion.

Meanwhile, the Classic Doctor Who team have continued to keep readers appraised with the developments on future releases over Twitter (summary over the last month detailed below). This includes a new feed dedicated to the Restoration Team, which can be followed on Twitter via @RTnewsfeed.

11 Jul Ed Stradling: Article on March's filming of the #doctorwho Android Invasion DVD here

http://t.co/5zaHIXR

11 Jul ClassicDW: Lee Binding provides first drafts of R1 and R2 COLONY IN SPACE sleeves.

12 Jul ClassicDW: A lot of Qs coming in re REVISITATIONS 4. No current plans for this.

Are there other early releases buyers would like to see revisited?

13 Jul Ed Stradling: starting prep work today on an obituary #doctorwho DVD feature for Barry Letts

14 Jul ClassicDW: Signed off enjoyable doc about DEATH TO THE DALEKS from Chris Chapman

14 Jul Chris Chapman: Have just been commissioned to put together a VERY exciting making-of!

14 Jul Chris Chapman: Anyone ever hear what became of the small boy in Reign of Terror -

Peter Walker? He'd be nearly 60 now and we're trying to track him down!

15 Jul RTnewsfeed: Gearing up for heavy workload next week, delivering VAM packages for

four Doctor Who releases. Two full days in grading at TV Centre!

17 Jul RTnewsfeed: Busy times ahead for the Restoration Team's Mark Ayres with two

new 5.1 surround mixes commissioned.

18 Jul RTnewsfeed: The RT's Steve Roberts sitting down to edit Hon Sarah Ward's meeting

with Michael Aspel for a future release.

20 Jul ClassicDW: Finished stock for the SUN MAKERS has just arrived! That was early!!

20 Jul RTnewsfeed: The RT's Steve Roberts is sitting in a grading suite at TV Centre with

colourist Paul Warren, grading VAM for Nightmare of Eden.

21 Jul Mark Ayres: Commentaries for #drwho #doctorwho The Sensorites DVD uploaded to

ClassicDW for checking. Hopefully he'll just tick the box!

21 Jul ClassicDW: Rough of SENSORITES commentary in from Mark Ayres. That's much of

Thursday all used up!! Lovely to hear W.Russell &amp; C.A.Ford together.

21 Jul Chris Chapman: DVD of Colony in Space due out in October - featuring my next

Who documentary 'IMC Needs You!' lots of lovely quarry anecdotes!

22 Jul Ed Stradling: A RTnewsfeed ClassicDW grading day at BBC TV Centre - various extras

for #drwho Dragonfire, H Patrol &amp; Face of Evil. http://t.co/UxLMJBl

22 Jul RTnewsfeed: The Sensorites DVD commentaries signed off. Audio files

ftp'd from Mark Ayres to Peter Crocker for layback to video masters.

25 Jul Ed Stradling: Watched good DVD feature by Thomas Guerrier on Sun Makers

DVD. Excellent use of clips.

26 Jul Chris Chapman: The mystery of Peter R Newman, eh? Hey... that might make a

good subject for a DVD documentary...

28 Jul Mark Ayres: DVD commentary for #drwho #doctorwho The Face of Evil submitted to

ClassicDW for review. It contains the word "fettling"

28 Jul ClassicDW: Rough version of THE FACE OF EVIL comm in from Mark Ayres. Sounds like

a tremendous full studio: "I'm out to kill Leela!"

28 Jul Mark Ayres: "Fettling" passed muster; Face of Evil DVD masters uploaded

to ftp. I will now attempt to take a couple of weeks off #drwho

28 Jul ClassicDW: What a troupe! @Tobyhadoke and team at the comm recording for

COLONY IN SPACE. #DoctorWho http://t.co/uHgrUv3

28 Jul ClassicDW: Oh, DAY OF THE DALEKS Disc 2 is WONDERFUL!!!

1 Aug Steve Roberts: A day of ClassicDW paperwork awaits. Writing up asset notes for

four titles delivering very soon!

1 Aug Steve Roberts: Paperwork just about done, pending Ed getting his ass into gear

and delivering his clearance forms. ;)

2 Aug Chris Chapman: Ok, fingers crossed that August 31st works for all my interviewees-

if so, that'll be my filming day for Greatest Show and Reign.

2 Aug Chris Chapman: Am wondering if I can squeeze 10 interviews into a day...

normally do nine... my brain may bubble out by the end... aw, go on!

5 Aug Ed Stradling: Some more graphics &amp; editing today on that political #doctorwho

feature for happiness patrol dvd

8 Aug Ed Stradling: Looking through long interview with Nick Courtney and Tom Baker

which Michael McManus did last year. So many funny but un-usable gags from Tom!

FILTER: - UK - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

Dead Of Night: UK final ratings

Monday, 8 August 2011 - Reported by Marcus

Episode Three of Torchwood: Miracle Day had a final official rating of 5.49 million viewers according to figures released by BARB.

The programme was the 8th highest rated on BBC One for the week. The final result includes those who recorded the programme and watched it within 7 days. It does not include those watching on iPlayer.

Episode One of the current series was the 8th most requested programme on the BBC iPlayer in July, with 0.84 million requests, only being beaten by Top Gear and The Apprentice. Episode Two was 11th with 0.65 million requests and Episode Three 38th with 0.41 million requests.

Episode Four had an AI score of 85.

FILTER: - Torchwood - Ratings - UK - Miracle Day (Series 4)

Next Time: The Categories of Life

Monday, 8 August 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Next Thursday (11th August) sees the fifth episode of Torchwood: Miracle Day premiering in the UK, with The Categories of Life being broadcast at 9:00pm on BBC1/BBC1HD. The episode will also be repeated on BBC2/BBCHD the following Monday at 11:20pm, and available to watch online in the UK via the BBC iPlayer until 23rd September.

PLOT SYNOPSIS FOR THE CATEGORIES OF LIFE FOLLOWS - MAY BE CONSIDERED A SPOILER

Torchwood goes undercover and discovers the terrible truth behind the "miracle"; but the enemy is closing in, and death is about to make a shocking return.

The BBC trailer for the episode is available online:

Torchwood episode 3 trailer, BBC, via iPlayer - may not play outside of the United Kingdom
Alternatively there is a YouTube version.

A preview clip from the episode is also available to watch:

Torchwood Dead of Night preview, BBC, via iPlayer - may not play outside of the United Kingdom
Alternatively there is a YouTube version.

FILTER: - Torchwood - UK - Online - Miracle Day (Series 4)

BBC Worldwide Productions/Starz Partnership

Monday, 8 August 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster

BBC Worldwide Productions and Starz have announced a new partnership to develop television series for the American cable channel to distribute in the United States and Canada, with BBC Worldwide distributing worldwide.

The deal comes after the perceived success of the co-production of Torchwood: Miracle Day for the two enterprises; Head of BBC Worldwide Productions, Jane Tranter, said:

We're in a uniquely similar place to Starz. With Chris (Albrecht)'s arrival, Starz made a name in originals and is defining themselves as a true player in the U.S. premium cable territory. At BBC Worldwide Productions, we've hit our stride in the scripted business after starting these efforts just over two years ago. Working with Starz on Torchwood: Miracle Day has been a collaborative and invigorating journey. We're very much looking forward to bringing Starz' subscribers more of the programming they're coming to expect - intelligent, groundbreaking, and honest storytelling, which is synonymous with our BBC roots and values.

Albrecht, CEO of Starz, said:

When I came to Starz, we determined that forging strong international partnerships would play centre stage in financing our ramp-up of dynamic original programming; this exciting partnership with BBC Worldwide Productions is a major step in that direction. It will allow us to provide Starz subscribers more original programming, while delivering enhanced opportunity across all our domestic distribution businesses including Anchor Bay and Starz Digital Media. Jane Tranter, and the incredible teams at BBC Worldwide Productions and BBC Worldwide will be terrific partners, and we are very pleased to be able to extend our relationship with them through this venture.

The partnership strengthens the relationship between the two companies, but does not guarantee further series of Torchwood would automatically follow; Albrecht commented at a recent TV Critics Show that the series was not a high priority and would depend upon commitment from Russell T Davies.

(newslink: BBC Worldwide Press Releases)

FILTER: - Press - BBC

People Roundup

Monday, 8 August 2011 - Reported by Marcus

David Tennant is to play a wedding planner with a passion for plastic surgery in a new comedy on Sky Atlantic. The actor will make a guest appearance in episode one of This Is Jinsy, playing Mr Slightlyman. The series will be shown in September 2011 and future episodes will feature Catherine Tate and Simon Callow.

Tennant has also been signed up for a new CBeebies animation series, Tree Fu Tom. He will provide the voice of the lead character Twigs while the voice Tom will be provided by former companion Sophie Aldred, who played Ace alongside the Seventh Doctor in the 1980's. The series is aimed at 4-6-year-olds, and set in an enchanted world where movement creates magic.

Colin Baker is currently touring the UK playing the role of Count Fosco in the national tour of Wilkie Collins' classic ghost story The Woman in White. This tour runs into the Autumn and includes stops in Swansea, Guildford, Buxton, Worthing, Derby, Basingstoke, Crewe, Malvern and Taunton.

Robert Shearman, who wrote the 2005 story Dalek, will become writer-in-residence at Edinburgh's Napier University from September. The fantasy writer will advise students on the university's MA in creative writing course, a role previously held by Scottish novelist James Robertson.

FILTER: - People - David Tennant - Colin Baker

BBC America 'Best Of' Specials

Sunday, 7 August 2011 - Reported by Marcus

BBC America is to air three Doctor Who specials in the run up to the return of Doctor Who to the channel on Saturday August 27.

The three programmes will talk to devoted fans of Doctor Who asking such questions as which Doctor Who monster would make the best roommate? What’s the most fashionable Timelord headgear, fez or Stetson? And. pool in the TARDIS or Vortex Manipulator watch?

These questions as put to celebrity Doctor Who fans as well as viewers who packed the exhibition floor at last month’s San Diego Comic-Con. Their answers will be feature in three original specials that BBC America will show over the next three Saturdays.

Doctor Who: Best of the Doctor – Saturday, August 13 at 9/8c.
Doctor Who: Best of the Monsters – Saturday, August 20 at 9/8c.
Doctor Who: Best of the Companions – Saturday, August 27 following the Doctor Who premiere episode, “Let’s Kill Hitler,” which airs at 9/8c.

The lineup includes: Alison Haislip (The Voice, G4 correspondent), Chris Hardwick (Nerdist), Scott Adsit (30 Rock), Natalie Morales (Parks and Recreation), Eugene Mirman (Flight of the Conchords, Bob’s Burgers), WIRED Magazine senior editor Adam Rogers, singer-songwriter Amanda Palmer (Dresden Dolls), comedian/musician Reggie Watts, Danielle Harris (the Halloween franchise), comedian Paul F. Tompkins, former NFL player Hugh Douglas, and guitar hero Scott Ian (Anthrax). And Who fan fave Mark Sheppard — Canton Delaware III from the two-part season opener — will also be joining the festivities.

FILTER: - USA - BBC America - Series 6/32

Previous 10 Stories

Torchwood: BBC responds to complaints

Doctor Who Experience Workshops

2011 Season Refresher

This Week in Doctor Who

UK DVD release update

Dead Of Night: UK final ratings

Next Time: The Categories of Life

BBC Worldwide Productions/Starz Partnership

People Roundup

BBC America 'Best Of' Specials

Amazon Associate paid Link. Doctor Who News is supported by qualifying purchases.

This Week in Doctor Who

ARCHIVE

FILTER