Candy Jar Books have announced a change in schedules for their novels based upon the character of Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart.

Owing to Lance Parkin being unavailable for the project at present, his novel Horror of Det-Sen will no longer be published in June, with David A McIntee's The Schizoid Earth now moving into that slot. Shaun Russell, head of publishing, said:
McIntee's novel will be followed by a new replacement a few months later entitled Beast of Fang Rock which, as the name implies, is a prequel/sequel to the Season 15 opener Horror of Fang Rock; it will be co-written by Andy Frankham-Allen and the original script's writer Terrance Dicks. This will then be followed by the previously announced Mutually Assured Domination by Nick Walters.

Looking to 2016, novels have been commissioned from John Peel (author of a number of Virgin/BBC Books and story novelisations), Jonathan Cooper (former Doctor Who correspondent with the Mirror), Lizbeth M Myles (author of several short stories), and Adrian Rigelsford (The Hinchcliffe Years and The Harper Classics).

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To celebrate the success of the first book in the range, The Forgotten Son, Candy Jar Books have made a 65 page e-book freely available for download from their website. Hayley Cox, senior publishing co-ordinator, said:

Lethbridge-Stewart: Top Secret Files contains previously unpublished material, as well as an extended short story first published in Doctor Who Magazine #483 in February. It also includes a special, previously unreleased interview in which Doctor Who director Graeme Harper talks about the actor who played Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart, Nicholas Courtney.

• The Ambush! – A short story originally published in Doctor Who Magazine #438, now extended with new scenes. It is set during the Doctor Who serial The Web of Fear, and serves as an introduction to the Lethbridge-Stewart book series.
• We Won’t Let Him Down – An extended version of the final chapter of Candy Jar Books’ Companions: Fifty Years of Doctor Who Assistants, focussing solely on the television adventures of the Brigadier.
• What Lies Beyond – A brief look at some of the Doctor Who novels that have featured the Brigadier over the years that pertain to the future of the Lethbridge-Stewart series of novels.
• Graeme Harper – An extended interview with Doctor Who director Graeme Harper (the only director to have worked on the classic series and the revived series) from the book Calling the Shots, in which he talks about Nicholas Courtney, the man who brought the Brigadier to life.
• Original Prelude – Never-before-seen original prelude that was written to open The Forgotten Son, set during the final moments of the Brigadier’s life.
• The New World – The opening chapter of The Forgotten Son, the first novel in the Lethbridge-Stewart series.

The e-book is also available for the Kindle via Amazon.

Wed​nesday ​April​ 15​ ​sees the release of ​Doctor Who: Tenth Doctor #9, written by Robbie Morrison and illustrated by Daniel Indro.

BBC Worldwide has announced a new collaboration with content distribution service BitTorrent to mark a decade of new Doctor Who.

To celebrate ten years since the series reboot, the file sharing network will be offering a ten story box set featuring specially selected highlights from the modern era of Doctor Who for $12 globally.

The package will include exclusive video content from incumbent Doctor Peter Capaldi who gives his insight into some of his favourite Doctor Who episodes as well as Doctor Who: Earth Conquest – the documentary about the 2014 global tour which saw Capaldi and companion Jenna Coleman travel the world to meet their fans.

Julia Kenyon, Director of Drama Brands, BBC Worldwide comments: Matt Mason, Chief Content Officer at BitTorrent adds: The ten story box set will be available globally to stream or download from the BitTorrent Website.

The $12 Download / Stream Package includes

• Series 1: Rose
• Series 1: The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances
• Series 2: The Girl in the Fireplace
• Series 3: Blink
• Series 4: Special - The End of Time (Parts 1 & 2)
• Series 5: The Vampires of Venice
• Series 6: The Doctor’s Wife
• Series 7: The Rings of Akhaten
• 50th Anniversary special: The Day of the Doctor
• Series 8: Listen

Today, April 1, sees the release of a brand-new mini-series starring the Ninth Doctor​, ​as played by Christopher Eccleston.

Written by the co-author of bestselling ‘Who-ology’, Cavan Scott and illustrated by artist Blair Shedd (Legends of Oz, Ghostbusters), this 5-part mini-series also features characters Rose and Captain Jack.

To celebrate​ ​today's launch​ Titan have released a ​special ​video me​ssage from writer Cavan Scott​ filmed especially from the Ninth Doctor​'s​ TARDIS at ​the Doctor Who Experience at Cardiff..

Titan have released a preview of a number of additional variant covers for the new Comic set based on the adventures of the Ninth Doctor, as played by Christopher Eccleston.

The five part series, released on Wednesday, is written by the co-author of the bestselling 'Who-ology', Cavan Scott, and illustrated by artist Blair Shedd.

Doctor Who News recently had the privilege of interviewing talented comic book writer Nick Abadzis, who works on the ongoing Tenth Doctor series from Titan Comics. Having enjoyed the new stories  (which I have reviewed for some time here on this site) I was fascinated to find out a bit more about the process behind them.

Doctor Who Comics influenced Abadzis going back to his childhood, so even today he finds it very special to be part of this great tradition. He has produced the acclaimed graphic novel 'LAIKA', which won an Eisner award, and got similar praise and awards from foreign countries. His upcoming project is entitled Pigs Might Fly and will literally involve flying pigs.

The Tenth Doctor stories take place immediately after Donna Noble's unceremonious exit from the TARDIS crew in Journey's End.approaches the stories as if they formed a proper fourth season for this incarnation; (of course producer Russell T Davies came up with the idea of a 'gap year' of Specials instead). The Tenth Doctor is not in the happiest of places mentally, and is cautious of taking on another companion. He needs newcomer Gabby to win his trust.  

One deliberate creative approach involves using the traditional Doctor Who cliffhanger to  gain reader loyalty and have them obtain further installments from the range.  ButAbadzis tries to not be too formulaic in his storytelling, and this means that the dominant character in the story varies.
Abadzis's sheer passion for the comic format is evident:    
Abadzis acknowledges that David Tennant's own charisma gives the story with the Doctor a certain energy and drive, yet he as the writer must look for ways for the heroic Time Lord to develop as a character. Furthermore the RTD produced era was multilayered and in comic form, Nick wants to try and explore that intriguing material with the options comic books allow. Nick also is gracious in crediting the work done by artist  by Elena Casagrande, who is an even bigger fan of the character portrayed by Tennant.

On a final note, he expressed his desire to see major live tours for David Bowie and Iggy Pop when I asked what he would visit if time travel were possible.

The full interview with Nick Abadzis is on Doctor Who Reviews.

Doctor Who: Tenth Vol. 1  is out now in comic book stores, and reaches books stores on March 31st.

Amazon UK Link
Anazon US Link

Big Finish have announced a new Eighth Doctor Series, Doom Coalition will be released in the Autumn.

Starring Paul McGann as the Doctor and Nicola Walker as his companion Liv Chenka, the series will see the TARDIS recalled to Gallifrey by the Time Lords, where they will be battling a new foe known only as The Eleven.

Doom Coalition is an epic saga that will span four box sets (a total of sixteen episodes) forming one breathtaking inter-connecting saga that will push the Doctor’s bravery and resourcefulness to its limits.

Producer David Richardson explained The series will be directed by Ken BentleyThe first box set will see a new addition to the TARDIS team when gifted philologist Helen Sinclair steps aboard in the second episode. Helen is played by Hattie Morahan, whose many leading credits include Bodies, Eternal Law, The Bletchley Circle and the upcoming film Mr Holmes.

Richardson explained the premise behind the character Doom Coalition’s first episode also introduces a brand new villain – albeit one that the Doctor has been batting throughout his lives. The Eleven is a Time Lord who retains each one of his personalities every time he regenerates; now in his Eleventh incarnation, he is an insane sociopath. Captured by the Seventh Doctor and placed in confinement on Gallifrey, the Eleven has been contained for many years. But now he has escaped.

The Eleven is played by Mark Bonnar, who was recently seen in Channel 4’s Catastrophe, and won critical acclaim in The Line of Duty. His other leading credits include Shetland, Psychoville and Paradox.

The first volume’s cast also includes Robert Bathurst (Downton Abbey, Toast of London, Blandings), Caroline Langrishe (Dominick Hide, Lovejoy, Judge John Deed), Ramon Tikaram (Stella, Jupiter Ascending, Game of Thrones), David Yelland (Chariots of Fire, Poirot), John Woodvine (Doctor Who: The Armageddon Factor), Harry Myers (Bernice Summerfield), Esther Hall (Queer as Folk, Spooks, Rome) and Matthew Cottle (Game On, Citizen Khan).

Doom Coalition 1 is released in October 2015. The remaining three volumes will follow at six month intervals through 2016 and into 2017

March 25 sees the release of the latest issue of Doctor Who: The Eleventh Doctor by Rob Williams (200​0​AD) and Simon Fraser (Nikolai Dante).

Titan have released a preview of the artwork for the new Comic set based on the adventures of the Ninth Doctor, as played by Christopher Eccleston.

The five part series, released on 1st April, is written by the co-author of the bestselling 'Who-ology', Cavan Scott, and illustrated by artist Blair Shedd, this 5-part mini-series also features characters Rose as played by Billie Piper, and Captain Jack, played by John Barrowman.

The first issue comes with four covers to collect including a brand-new painted cover by fan-favorite artist Alice X. Zhang.

In addition a number of Comic store variants are available with special editions created for BBC Doctor Who Shop, Barnes & Noble, Newbury Comics, Gifts For The Geek, Happy Harbor Comics​, Comics To Astonish, Comics On The Green, More Fun Comics and Games, Books-A-Million and two versions for Buy Me Toys.

Wednesday March 18 sees the release of Doctor Who: The Twelfth Doctor issue #6 by Robbie Morrison and art by Brian Williamson .