Doctor Who best seller for BBC Worldwide

Tuesday, 12 July 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster

BBC Worldwide's Annual Review for 2011 has been released, and figures show that Doctor Who has led the way for the BBC's commercial arm's success in the last year.

The series was the biggest show sold internationally last year, and is now available in over fifty territories. It saw significant growth within the United States, including becoming the third-biggest seller in the US iTunes charts (behind Mad Men and Glee). Overall, the Doctor Who franchise saw its revenue increase by 49%.

Series Five was one of the top five selling series for BBC Worldwide, with the others being the first series of Sherlock, series 15 and 16 of Top Gear, and Human Planet. In terms of revenue, the top three series were Top Gear, Doctor Who, and Waking the Dead.

Doctor Who is one of the five "power brands", along with Top Gear, Lonely Planet, BBC Earth and Dancing with the Stars; together their revenue reached £308.1m, accounting for 27% of BBC Worldwide's total of £1.16 billion.

The full report can be found via the BBC website.

FILTER: - Doctor Who - BBC

Win - Chameleon Circuit: Still Got Legs

Tuesday, 12 July 2011 - Reported by Marcus

The Doctor Who News Page is offering readers the chance to win a copy of Still Got Legs by Chameleon Circuit.

Still Got Legs
Music written and performed by Alex Day, Charlie McDonnell, Liam Dryden and "Eddplant".

Track List:

The Subwave Signal
Regenerate Me
Nightmares
Travelling Man
Everything Is Ending
Mr Pond
Kiss the Girl
Knock Four Times
Teenage Rebel
Big Bang Two
Eleven
The Sound of Drums
Silence and the End of All Things
The Doctor Is Dying
Still Not Ginger

Released: 12th July 2011

(available to purchase now from DFTBA Records or via the iTunes store)

We have three copies of the CD up for grabs courtesy of DFTBA Records. To be in for a chance of winning a copy, simply answer this question:

What was the name of the device that allowed the Doctor and his companions to see The Beatles perform Ticket to Ride in 1965's The Chase?

Send your answer with your name to us at stillgotlegs-competition@doctorwhonews.net, with the subject line Still Got Legs Competition. Winners will be notified via email.

Closing Date: 11:59 PM BST, 26 July 2011. Open Worldwide.

FILTER: - Competitions - Doctor Who News

Doctor Who adventures arrive on Facebook

Tuesday, 12 July 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster

The BBC are to make a number of classic and new Doctor Who stories available to watch via their Facebook page. The stories, which includes (the as-yet unreleased on DVD) The Greatest Show in the Galaxy, will be 'rentable' for 48 hours from the page using Facebook's proprietry credit system.

As well as the Seventh Doctor's clownish encounter above, the initial offering includes a monochrome cyber-adventure for the Second Doctor in Tomb of the Cybermen, Sontaran shenanigans for the Third Doctor in The Time Warrior, a trip to Paris for the Fourth Doctor in City of Death, the Fifth and Sixth Doctors' encounters with the Cybermen in Earthshock and Attack of the Cybermen, and revived series stories such as the Ninth Doctor taking Rose to the future in The End of the World, and the Tenth Docotor's first meeting with River Song in Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead.

BBC Worldwide's Chief Executive John Smith said:

As we have grown internationally, we've seen through our Facebook channel that fans who are loving the new series are asking for a guide into our rich Doctor Who back catalogue. Our approach to Facebook and other leading edge platforms is to be right there alongside them in fostering innovation. We see this service as a perfect way to give our fans what they want, as well as a great way for them to get their fix between now and the autumn when Series Six continues.

Facebook's Director of Platform Partnerships Christian Hernandez said:

Millions of people engage with their favourite TV shows on Facebook every day and we're now seeing broadcasters look at innovative ways to use Facebook tools to connect their fans with exclusive content. Through its Facebook page, BBC Worldwide is giving Doctor Who fans a quick and easy way to access these iconic episodes.

The stories will be accessible via the BBC's application on Facebook, and may be viewed by users from Europe, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

FILTER: - Doctor Who - Online

The New World: Canadian Ratings

Tuesday, 12 July 2011 - Reported by Marcus

The premiere of Torchwood: Miracle Day drew nearly a million viewers to SPACE on Saturday delivering the channel its highest audience ever.

The New World achieved an average of 432,000 viewers with 929,000 watching some part episode. When compared to the premiere of Torchwood’s third series, Children of Earth, the premiere of Miracle Day increased 55% among total viewers, 49% among A25-54, 53% among A18-49, and 56% among female viewers.

The series continues next Saturday, July 16 at 9 p.m. ET.

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

The New World: Starz ratings

Tuesday, 12 July 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Audience figures have been released for the premiere episode of Torchwood: Miracle Day broadcast on the US cable subscription channel Starz on Friday, and indicate that 1.51m watched The New World on its first two broadcasts (819000 at 10:00pm, 687000 at 11:00pm); a combined figure of 2m viewers was reached after the Sunday evening repeats.

The figures compare favourably with Starz's recent series Camelot, which achieved the highest "original series" premiere for the channel back in April with 1.57m tuning in on its opening night, and then too reached 2m by the end of the weekend.

Torchwood's viewing figures above do not factor in on-demand or online viewers.

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

Force18 T-Shirt Offer

Monday, 11 July 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Force18 have launched two new designs inspired by Doctor Who, Vworp Vworp and Exterminate, and have provided a special discount on ordering t-shirts for readers of Doctor Who News.

The offer provides a £2.00 discount on any order made on their website, valid until the 31st August 2011, and can be claimed by using this code during the checkout process:

DOCTORWHONEWS

Visit the Force18 website to see these and other t-shirt designs from the company.

Please visit our Competitions website for a chance to win one of the designs, courtesy of Force18.

FILTER: - Merchandise

Force18: T-Shirt competition

Monday, 11 July 2011 - Reported by Marcus

Force18 are offering readers of Doctor Who News a chance to win one of their new Doctor Who-inspired t-shirt designs.

In order to enter the competition, simply answer the following question:

Force18's new designs are inspired by two of Doctor Who's memorable icons ... but in which episode did we see a Dalek actually appear inside the TARDIS?

Closing date: Sunday 17 July. Open to residents of the UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and all EU Member States.

Email your answer to this competition address with the subject line "Force18 Competition" - we will contact the winners with details on how to receive their prize from Force18 after the competition has closed. Please state which t-shirt design you'd prefer to receive if you win.

FILTER: - T-Shirts - Competitions - Doctor Who News

Doctor Who is an average person's favourite show

Monday, 11 July 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster

An "alternative census" has been carried out in the UK to determine what constitutes the "average" person's life in the United Kingdom, and reports that Doctor Who is the programme they most like to watch!

The survey was undertaken in over 2000 households by energy management service AlertMe, with chief executive officer of the company Mary Turner explaining:

The government census tells us information that is quite run-of-the-mill. We wanted to find out the bare bones of people’s everyday behaviour.

Looking into daily lives, the report uncovered snippets such as favourites foods of the week (with fish and chips being the obvious Friday winner), families eating together three times a week (at 5:54pm!), and generally getting home from work at 5:15pm. Eight out of ten families consider themselves to be "happy" or "very happy", with 70% of adults considering their household as "completely normal". Half of families surveyed also indicated that television is their main form of entertainment, with a typical family tuning in for some nine hours a day and citing Doctor Who as their favoured show.

The survey also found that the average person gets up at 6:57am and goes to bed at 10:50pm - so there's no reason to miss Torchwood this coming Thursday!

FILTER: - Doctor Who - UK - Miscellaneous

Fan Productions roundup

Saturday, 9 July 2011 - Reported by Harry Ward

This roundup features three fanzines, two of which are first issues, a new album from a Time Lord Rock band and the first completed work by the Doctor Who Fan Orchestra.

Doctor Who Fan Orchestra - I Am The Doctor

DWFO: "I Am The Doctor", "socksofbalhoon", via YouTube

Whotopia - Issue 21

In this issue:

Nicholas Courtney & Elisabeth Sladen Tributes - Michael S Collins, Gary Phillips, Bob Furnell, Thomas Willam Spychalski and Claire Chaplin pay tribute to two fo the series' most acclaimed actors.
Jean-Marc L'Officier Interview - Jez Strickley talks to the author and translator about the original Doctor Who program guide, French comics and a certain Docteur Omega...
Music for Ming Mongs - David MacGowan takes us on an innovative tour of Doctor Who by way of the indie rock band, the Gossip.
Wholife: Dressing Up - Grant Bull joins Whotopia's team of columnists with an ireverent look at dress sense in Doctor Who.
Dalek's Advocate: In Defence of Michael Grade - Jon Arnold don's the mantle of Skarosian lawyer to defend former BBC Controller Michael Grade.
The Fanzine Corner - With the world of fanzines at his fingertips, Bob Furnell spotlights one of fandoms enduring features in the all-new column.
They Think It's All Over - Michael S. Collins mind turns to a tournament of galactic proportions.
Audio Tomb - Matthew Kresal explores the audio version of The Tomb of The Cybermen with an eye on its TV counterpart.
Who's Catchphrase Craze - Emily Jones considers how certain catchphrases have come to define the new series.
Sarah Jane Adventures: Series Four Reviews - Jon Arnold, Grant Bull, Brendan Kennedy, Dan Rushton, Thomas Willam Spychalski and Ian Wheeler tell us about the latest offerings from the successful spin-off series.
K-9 Series One Review - How did the much-anticipated K-9 series fare? Gary Phillips tells all.
Target Trawl - Wirrn and Axons are on the menu in another lively instalment from our resident Target books reader, Nick Mellish.
Screwdrivers, Scaries and Scarves: The TARDIS - A look at the Doctor's longest-standing 'companion' by Jez Strickley.
Sacreligious Thoughts - Bob Furnell offers explanations why he's not in love with Doctor Who like he use to be.
A Christmas Carol Review - Just how special was Matt Smith's first Christmas outing? Gary Phillips gives us his view.
Fiction: The Thoughts of a Time Machine - New original fiction from British writer Martin Hearn.

All this and more in Whotopia issue 21. Available to download for free in PDF format.

Fanwnak - Issue 1

In this issue:

Interview - Toby Hadoke on moths, the BBC and running through corridors...
Doctor Who's Big Fat Gypsy Massacre!
Jeff's Internet History Lessons
Shada Reconstruction News
Philip Hinchcliffe's Production Notes
Fan Fiction - The Silent Space
William Shakespeare
My Heretical Error
Gumblejack
Mo' Hanky-Panky In The TARDIS
The Unloved
Six Years Of New Doctor Who
Doctor Ooh!
Comic Strip - At Home With The Who's
Trying Not To Get Lost
Doctor Who And The Victorians
Letterbox

And more...

Submissions needed for Issue 2:

In order to survive, every printed publication needs high quality contributors. (Hopefully, that's you!) In an age where online publication is the now the norm, it is instantly gratifying to get your work/thoughts out to the world for virtually free and getting a printed fanzine off the ground is hard. FANWNAK Issue 1 eventually launched with much acclaim after months of development. Now it's your chance to contribute to the upcoming Issue 2. Just email me at snhbuk@gmail.com if you'd like to help out. I am accepting comic strips (in full glorious colour) and articles for either the new or classic series of Doctor Who whether they be funny or serious, I'd appreciate your support. Thank you!

Theta Morbius Times - Issue 1

In this issue:

We pay tribute to the incredible lives of Elisabeth Sladen and Nicholas Courtney in Who's News
TMT exclusively interviews Baelcolour and Aquatics64, two highly regarded fan film creators about their life, their craft and their future
Memorial is a tragic and moving strip about grief and loss. Find out what makes it so succesful in the Archive
And in another comic strip feature, TMT investigates the incredible world of the Doctor's comic strip companions in the Fundamentals
We review the first two episodes of Series Six and find out what makes these episodes work in Who's Views
In an incredible exclusive we interview Rich Morris, the creator of the incredible comic strip The Ten Doctors in the first part of our Serialised Comic
Plus regular features such as Novelisational, the Escapists column and reviews of both new and old episodes and merchandise.

All this and more in the latest issue of Theta Morbius Times!

Chameleon Circuit - Still Got Legs

Release Date: July 12, 2011

You can listen to the whole album for free in the player below courtesy of Alex Day.

More products from Chameleon Circuit can be found here.

FILTER: - Fan Productions

UK Classic DVD update: The Sun Makers

Friday, 8 July 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster

2|Entertain have now released details on next month's DVD release, The Sun Makers; this story marks the completion of Season 15 on DVD, the penultimate adventure under producership of Graham Williams, and brings the remaining list of Fourth Doctor adventures still to be released down to four (five if the incomplete Shada is included).

The Sun Makers
Release Date: 1st August 2011 (available for pre-order)

Starring Tom Baker as Doctor Who, with Louise Jameson as Leela
Written by Robert Holmes
Directed by Pennant Roberts

Broadcast: 26th November 1977 - 17th December 1977

Far in the distant future, Earth has become uninhabitable, forcing mankind to colonise first Mars, and then Pluto...

No longer the coldest planet in the Solar System, Pluto is now warmed by a series of artificial suns. But access to the sunlight is limited to a select few... The majority of the citizens of the vast Megropolis cities are being overworked and overtaxed by the ruling elite, led by the Gatherer, and the sinister Collector.

When the Doctor, Leela and K9 arrive they discover that all is not well on Pluto. The human population is being totally exploited, while deep in the Undercity, a small band of rebels seeks to overthrow the mysterious 'Company' that controls all aspects of everyday life.

As the situation gets more desperate, the Doctor is forced to fight the oppression of the evil corporate rulers of Pluto. And their taxes...!

Special Features

Commentary with actors Tom Baker, Louise Jameson and Michael Keating, director Pennant Roberts.
Running from the Tax Man – a retrospective look at the making of the story and the science behind it. With actors Louise Jameson and Michael Keating, director Pennant Roberts, writer and historian Dominic Sandbrook and astronomer Marek Kukula.
Outtakes
Trailer – the original BBC1 trailer for the story.
The Doctor’s Composer – Part Two – the concluding part of the series looking at the career of prolific composer Dudley Simpson, covering his work on the show in the seventies.
Photo Gallery – production, design and publicity photos from the story.
Coming Soon – a trailer for a forthcoming DVD release.
Radio Times Listings in Adobe PDF format.
Programme subtitles
Subtitle Production Notes

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). Amongst the tidbits are the completion of Revisitations 3 - due to be released next year, and that while Elisabeth Sladen sadly hadn't recorded any further commentaries, Nicholas Courtney will feature on The Ambassadors of Death, and Barry Letts on The Mind of Evil.

05 Jun Mark Ayres: 4 seconds missing from VHS & US tx masters returned to @classicdw
Colony in Space for DVD. Restores 2 lines of dialogue.
06 Jun ClassicDW: Cracking doc on THE DAEMONS from Chris Chapman signed off.
Sue Hedden worth the price of DVD alone. What a great character!
06 Jun Mark Ayres: Colony in Space - restored soundtracks and mixed commentaries for
@classicdw DVD release done and delivered via ftp.
08 Jun ClassicDW: Enjoyable doc from James Goss signed off.
First in a series, and featuring Louise Jameson.
08 Jun Ed Stradling: Happiness Patrol making-of being heavily cut down today. Some of cut
material may be uploaded by @classicdw on youtube if you ask him nicely
08 Jun ClassicDW: Many have asked whether there are any unreleased commentaries featuring
N Courtney, L Sladen or B Letts.
08 Jun ClassicDW: Sadly there are none unreleased Elisabeth comms.
Nick appears on AMBASSADORS OF DEATH, and Barry on MIND OF EVIL.
08 Jun Ed Stradling: @classicdw worth RTing that Barry will also appear in vision discussing all
of his serials except 'Death to the Daleks', and other features
08 Jun ClassicDW: Final PARADISE TOWERS sleeves approved and off to the printers!
09 Jun Mark Ayres: Much of the week so far spent working on @classicdw @Thetamation @bigfinish
Reign of Terror. Now: a day-trip to Svartos.
12 Jun Ed Stradling: I am crap at deciding programme titles. I have "Studio Svartos" for the
Dragonfire making-of. Can any #doctorwho fans think of a better one?
13 Jun Ed Stradling: @Xander, @Babelcolour and @NicholasPegg "Fire and Ice" is now the title
of the Dragonfire doc.
14 Jun Ed Stradling: Shooting with Shaun Ley for a feature on the Happiness Patrol DVD
@classicdw http://t.co/4HWOQ0A
15 Jun ClassicDW: REVISITATIONS 3 completed! Sterling work from the team. Looking at release
first half 2012. VidFIRED TOMB looking great. :)
16 Jun Ed Stradling: Very very busy on graphics and title bumpers for DW Happiness Patrol.
17 Jun James Loosemore: Just finishing off the final mixes of my arrangement of the
Doctor Who Theme for @classicdw
18 Jun Chris Chapman: Seems like my next @classicdw shoot will be in late July - all
outdoors on location, always a bonus!
21 Jun Chris Chapman: Have a feeling that our Reign of Terror @classicdw doco could be
one of the best topics we've tackled - now just need a bit of good luck!
22 Jun Ed Stradling: krotons already commissioned for a making-of. Not sure about ice warrs.
23 Jun Ed Stradling: Dragonfire DVD doc finished and playing out to tape.
24 Jun Mark Ayres: Mastered audio for @classicdw Dragonfire and The Happiness Patrol DVDs
all complete and delivered.
25 Jun ClassicDW: Changes made to the VAM packages for KROTONS and PLANET OF GIANTS
following suggestions from @edstradling. Should be good! :)
26 Jun ClassicDW: Some lovely First Doctor character tests through from @thetamation
for REIGN OF TERROR.
27 Jun ClassicDW: Signed off menus for DAY OF THE DALEKS - Special Edition DVD.
27 Jun ClassicDW: Signed off cracking promo for ACE BOX featuring DRAGONFIRE and HAPPINESS PATROL.
New graphics in there, marvellously "Breakdance"!
28 Jun Chris Chapman: Opening animation for my @classicdw Death to the Daleks doco shaping up
nicely! Nice and moody...
28 Jun Mark Ayres: It's very hot in the studio today.
I put it down to unstable matter interfaces. Nightmare!
29 Jun Ed Stradling: Up bright and early for some GV shots! @classicdw http://t.co/BhbzhzV
01 Jul Chris Chapman: Our @classicdw Death to the Daleks doco is into the home stretch -
running at around 27mins at present. Feels like a good one!
01 Jul Chris Chapman: Quotes from @classicdw Death to the Daleks doco include:
"I think Terry Nation was taking the mickey!"
06 Jul Mark Ayres: Given that I have aleady restored this @classicdw title for audiobook,
DVD mastering should be easy...
07 Jul Chris Chapman: @0tralala I've done what you asked for! The Death to the Daleks Target book
is in the @classicdw DVD doco - ARE YOU HAPPY NOW?? :-)
07 Jul Chris Chapman: I'm taking requests (caveat: which I can totally ignore) for things YOU
want to see in the @classicdw GreatestShow and ReignOfTerror docos!
08 Jul Chris Chapman: Right! I've just sent @classicdw my nearly-final cut of our
Death to the Daleks doco - 'Beneath the City of the Exxilons'. Hope he likes it!

Some artwork has also been released for Italian versions of classic Doctor Who stories, which are distributed by DNC Entertainment; a number of titles have been mentioned including I Dalek Invadono La Terra, Gli Inizi, I Semi Della Morte, L'Invasione and Il Lardo Di Menti.