One week delay for 42

Wednesday, 2 May 2007 - Reported by Marcus
The BBC has announced that Series Three will take a one-week break on Saturday 12th May, meaning transmission of episode seven, 42, will now be on the 19th May.

The episode is being delayed because the BBC is committed to broadcasting the Eurovision Song Contest at 8pm that evening.

To fit Doctor Who into the schedule, it would require an earlier than usual start. Past evidence shows that the earlier the start time of the programme the lower the ratings, and it is thought the BBC wish to keep Doctor Who at 7pm in future to maximise the number watching.






FILTER: - Series 3/29 - Broadcasting

Why isn't Doctor Who broadcast in High Definition?

Sunday, 29 April 2007 - Reported by Chuck Foster

In response to a viewer question on why the BBC chose to broadcastTorchwood in high definition but not Doctor Who on the BBC opinion programme Points of View, producer Phil Collinson explained:

"Torchwood is shot in HD, and Doctor Who isn't. Quite simply, Torchwood has about a third the number of special effects shots that Doctor Who has. In that way its a much simpler series and so because they have less special effects its going to take less time to make those special effects.

"So the simple answer is we wouldn't be able to deliver a series of Doctor Who in high definition every year. It would probably take us twice as long to make so therefore viewers wouldn't get a series every year, they'd get a new series every 18 months."


Later in the programme, Mary Fitzpatrick, Editorial Executive for Diversity, responded to another viewer's question on the lack of prominent black people in BBC programmes, citing the Doctor's new assistant as played by Freema Agyeman as an example of how such actors are appearing in popular shows.

Presenter Terry Wogan also commented that Doctor Who is the most discussed series on the Points of View messageboard on the BBC website!




FILTER: - Broadcasting

Confidential Update

Sunday, 29 April 2007 - Reported by Jarrod Cooper

Doctor Who Confidential has released more information about the upcoming episodes for series 3.
6. Monsters Inc. - An episode of Doctor Who just wouldn't be the same without a monster to scare the living daylights out of you!

The creation of such a beast is never easy - especially when it's purely computer generated!

Confidential is on set throughout this chilling episode, spends some quality time with guest star Mark Gatiss and takes a look at some of the fantastic prosthetic and computer generated monsters created since the series made its welcomed come-back in 2005.

7. Space Craft - It's back into outer space for Doctor Who and this time it's an adventure set entirely on a spaceship.

Join Confidential as we gain exclusive access to Doctor Who's art department and take you on a tour of the spaceship's sets and locations. Confidential also journeys back in time to show you some of the best off the wall spaceship designs seen in five decades.

Guest star Michelle Collins discusses her role as the ship's captain, and how she felt performing stunts on her very first day on set.

From models on wires to cutting edge CGI, this is a space craft extravaganza.

8.Alter Ego - With aliens in hot pursuit, the Doctor and Martha find themselves in 1913 England.

Confidential is right beside them to delve deeper into the alter ego of the nation's favourite Time Lord.

Amidst all the stiff upper lips, we follow the advancing 'aliens' and their army, with exclusive backstage footage of the mayhem caused as the outer-space enemies close in on their prey.

Filmed almost entirely on location, Confidential was on-set with cast and crew in the winter wind, rain and mud for the nail-biting first episode of this two-part story.

Features interviews with writer Paul Cornell, whose original novel forms the basis of Human Nature, David Tennant and Freema Agyeman.

9. Family Ties - With The Family of Blood breathing down the neck of the Doctor, time is running out.

Confidential follows the action backstage as we glimpse a life more ordinary (for the Doctor) as well as a vision of the dark future ahead.

The complexities of filming this powerful episode are revealed, as well as the logistics behind the explosive ending.

Features interviews with head writer, Russell T Davies and Freema Aygeman on one of her toughest TARDIS assignments yet.

10. Do you remember the first time? - This week, David Tennant directs his very own Doctor Who Confidential. TV's top Time Lord has been given complete control to film his own very personal account of the making of Doctor Who and to take a nostalgic voyage of discovery to find out the secret behind the success of Doctor Who.

In this unique piece of television, David roams around the BBC, talking to cast and crew and fans of the show, uncovering the secret behind the success of Doctor Who.

From BBC bosses through to the Dead Ringers team, David is hunting for what makes Doctor Who so magical. He chats to the Daleks in the Blue Peter Garden, and discusses with Mark Gatiss the joy of playing a Doctor Who monster in the Lazarus Experiment.

Head writer, Russell T Davies and producer, Phil Collinson chat with David about how they've always had such fondness for the show and how it inspired their creative drive. Executive producer Julie Gardner and drama commissioner Jane Tranter reveal how and why the series was brought back and the unprecedented response it's had.

Stephen Moffat joins David on a hunt around Television Centre, looking for the studios where the classic series was filmed. They end up on the set of Newsnight.

Confidential also features exclusive backstage footage of Blink; one of the scariest episodes to date and candid chats with two of the week's most prominent stars, Carey Mulligan and Finlay Robertson who talk to David about their experience working on the show and on becoming part of the Doctor Who legacy.




FILTER: - Series 3/29 - Broadcasting

Week Six Schedule

Saturday, 28 April 2007 - Reported by Marcus
For the transmission of episode six, The Lazarus ExperimentDoctor Who moves back to a 7pm start. It is once more placed between The People's Quiz and Any Dream Will Do.

ITV1 counters with Vernon Kay's Gameshow Marathon, this week recreating Name that Tune.

Over on BBC2 there is more Snooker with the second semi-final of the World Championships while on Channel 4 there is a documentary series,Unreported World, a look at land reform to help Bolivia's indigenous peoples.

Five has the 1993 film Grumpy Old Men, starring Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau




FILTER: - Series 3/29 - Broadcasting

Series Three Air Date In US

Friday, 27 April 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive

The Sci Fi Channel has announced it will start airing Series Three ofDoctor Who in the USA fromJuly 6 at 9pm.Outpost Gallifrey reported four days ago that the channel had acquired the series. The press release said Sci Fi would be showing the programme in July but a precise date was not given by the company then.

(Thanks to Scot Ferre.)





FILTER: - USA - Series 3/29 - Broadcasting

Series Three Coming to Sci Fi

Monday, 23 April 2007 - Reported by R Alan Siler

In a press release issued today, SCI FI Channel and BBC Worldwide Americas announced a major acquisition deal for the US premiere of the third season of Doctor Who. The series will debut on SCI FI in July 2007, kicking off with the Doctor Who Christmas Special, The Runaway Bride, guest-starring award-winning comedy actress Catherine Tate.

Chris Regina, Vice President of Programming, SCI FI Channel, said "Doctor Who has become a favorite among SCI FI audiences. We are happy to bring the show back for its third season and look forward to following the Doctor's continuing adventures with his newest companion."

Candace Carlisle, COO, BBC Sales Company, commented, "SCI FI Channel has been a fantastic platform for the Doctor Who series in the US. We're excited for the Season Three launch and think American audiences will simply love the Doctor's hip new companion."

BBC Video will continue to work with SCI FI Channel on joint marketing promotions to support the Doctor Who brand in the US.

Burton Cromer, Senior Vice President, Consumer Products, BBC Worldwide Americas said: "Our promotional partnership with the SCI FI Channel, both on-air and online, was a significant factor in the fantastic success we've had with the new Doctor Who. It's also helped drive awareness and sales of our 40 plus line of classic Doctor Who titles."

The second season of the new Doctor Who earned impressive ratings during its airing on SCI FI, delivering an average of over one million viewers each week.

Read the entire press release here.




FILTER: - USA - Series 3/29 - Broadcasting

Week 5 Schedules

Saturday, 21 April 2007 - Reported by Marcus
For the transmission of episode five, Evolution of the Daleks, Doctor Who again moves its start time, this time to 6.45pm. Once more the programme is sandwiched between The National Lottery: The People's Quiz and Any Dream Will Do with Graham Norton.

ITV1 counters with the latest in Vernon Kay's Gameshow Marathon, this week recreating The Golden Shot.

BBC Two keeps Snooker addicts happy with three hours of second round of the World Championship 2007 while Channel 4 viewers can seeChannel 4 News followed by Prince Charles: The Bachelor Years, a programme recreating the days when Prince Charles played the field and dated a number of beautiful women.

Channel 5 has the film Blind Date postponed by one week.




FILTER: - UK - Series 3/29 - Broadcasting

Earlier start time for Daleks

Saturday, 14 April 2007 - Reported by Marcus
Schedules published for 21st April show that episode four, Daleks in Manhattan has an earlier start time of 6.35pm.

The programme is once more sandwiched between The National Lottery People's Quiz and the talent show Any Dream Will Do.

ITV1 appear to have altered their schedule to place their talent showGrease Is The Word at 7.25pm, missing Dcotor Who and placing it directly against the BBC's Joseph. Against the Doctor and the Daleks, they have scheduled Vernon Kay's Gameshow Marathon, where Wendy RichardMichael Le VellJamelia and Andrea Catherwood help recreate Blankety Blank.

BBC2 viewers are offered another futuristic drama series Superstorm, which runs from 6-7pm, followed by live coverage of World Championship Snooker from the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, while Channel 4 once more hasBorn Survivor: Bear Grylls. Last week, this got 1.4 million viewers.

Channel 5 is showing a 1987 Blake Edwards comedy, Blind Date, starringBruce Willis and Kim Basinger.

Doctor Who Confidential is on BBC3 at 7.25pm.

NB: schedules are subject to change.




FILTER: - UK - Series 3/29 - Broadcasting

Possible Episode Delay Latest

Thursday, 12 April 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive

The BBC said today that this coming Saturday's episode of Doctor Whowould be put back a week if the preceding football match overruns because "it could not be broadcast after extra time as it would be 'too late' for younger fans."

It details the alternative schedule for BBC Three, should the episode be bumped, adding that the decision whether or not to pull the episode will be made on the day.

BBC One is broadcasting the FA Cup semi-final clash between Manchester United and Watford.





FILTER: - UK - Series 3/29 - Broadcasting

Possible Gridlock Delay Confirmed

Tuesday, 10 April 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive

The new edition of the Radio Times, out today, confirms that Gridlock - episode three of Series Three - will be shown on April 21 rather than April 14 if the FA Cup semi-final between Manchester United and Watford, which precedes it, goes into extra time/penalties, as reported by Outpost Gallifrey on April 7.

How this would affect subsequent episodes is unknown. According to the "Next week in RT" banner at the back of the new edition of the listings magazine, Radio Times is planning a cover story for its edition dated 21-27 April to coincide with the start of the Dalek two-parter, which had been scheduled to go out on April 21 and 28.

Full details of what would happen to tie-in programme scheduling have been published by the CBBC Newsroundwebsite. They are as reproduced below.

(Thanks to Lizo Mzimba for the additional information.)
If the teams are drawing, and extra time has to be played, then the showing of episode three - Gridlock - will be delayed for a week.

It will also mean that behind the scenes show Doctor Who Confidential which usually goes out on BBC Three straight after each episode will go out a week later.

Instead viewers will be given another chance to see the first episode of the first series, Rose.

Extra time in the football will also mean changes on Sunday on BBC Three, when Saturday's episode is usually repeated. If Saturday's showing is delayed because of the football, the 2005 Christmas Special The Xmas Invasion will be on instead.

It also looks extremely likely that the following Friday's episode of Totally Doctor Who will have to go out a week later too.




FILTER: - UK - Series 3/29 - Radio Times - Broadcasting