Dalek World Record Attempt

Friday, 3 August 2007 - Reported by Jarrod Cooper

The Manchester-based Museum of Science and Industry, which hosts the Doctor Who Up Close exhibition, is attempting to attract a record number of Daleks on 26 August.

In order to fulfil Guinness World Records criteria, MoSI must attract 50 or more Daleks - people dressed in costumes which 'closely resemble a Dalek'.

For more information on the museum, please visit its website here.




FILTER: - Special Events

Doctor Who dropped at London Pride 2007

Sunday, 1 July 2007 - Reported by Marcus
Dr Who fans who endured very wet weather in London yesterday were disappointed when the organisers of London Pride 2007 had to pull the plug on the season finale, Last of the Time Lords, due to end the event on a large outdoor screen.

Hundreds of people gathered in Trafalgar Square to celebrate gay pride and were looking forward to seeing the show on the big screen when, at approximately 7.45pm, an apologetic host told the crowd that the programme had been cancelled.

The fans who had sat in the rain for a number of hours with the promise that "Doctor Who would be airing shortly" were left severely disappointed.

It was initially blamed on a faulty DVD player, but later transpired there was an 8pm curfew imposed on the event by Westminster Council and the police which meant there was no time for the broadcast.

Scheduling delays also lead to confusion over timing and some Who fans missed appearances by John Barrowman andFreema Agyeman (a typo in a timetable flyer amusingly listed her as Freda Agyeman). Altogether, a wet and disappointing day out in London for Who fans.

Submitted by Mark Nisbitt. Thanks also to Bruce Walcroft and Andrew Warrilow.




FILTER: - Special Events - Series 3/29

Moths Ate My Doctor Who Scarf

Friday, 15 June 2007 - Reported by Jarrod Cooper

Moths Ate My Doctor Who Scarf is a two-part version of Toby Hadoke's successful 2006 Edinburgh show. This BBC7 production will be broadcast on 20th and 27th July, featuring a cast that includes Louise Jameson (Leela) as Toby's mum, James Quinn as The Voice of the BBC and Toby who plays himself and narrates. There's also a cameo appearance from the sixth Doctor himself, Colin Baker!

The new BBC7 production of Moths Ate My Doctor Who Scarf will be released on CD by BBC Audiobooks on 30th July.
This is Toby Hadoke's fantastic autobiographical piece, with universal appeal, told along the timeline of Doctor Who history, using smart comedic observations and excerpts from his teenage diaries. These include how he coped with being bullied, why he never got the girl, and later how being such a fan of Doctor Who helped to actually get the girl and end up with two children that are now the envy of every kid in the playground, all thanks to a geeky obsession.




FILTER: - Special Events - Audio

Dilemma Averted for London Gay Who Fans

Wednesday, 13 June 2007 - Reported by R Alan Siler

As reported by PinkNews, the final episode of Series Three of Doctor Who,The Last of the Time Lords, is being broadcast on the same day as the London Pride Festival, held in Trafalgar Square.

Organizers of the event, in an effort to not make gay Who fans choose between the annual celebration and the season finale of their favourite show, have come up with an interesting compromise: they plan to carry the live BBC broadcast of the episode at 7:10 p.m. on a big screen at the event's main stage in Trafalgar Square. And if that's not enough to get gay fans out to the event, they've also arranged to have John Barrowman co-host the event with Graham Norton. Barrowman will be speaking earlier in the afternoon about his role as Captain Jack on Doctor Who and Torchwood.

The event kicks off at 3:00 following the Pride parade through town and concludes with the broadcast of The Last of the Time Lords.




FILTER: - Special Events - Series 3/29

Doctor Who - A Blue Peter Special

Friday, 8 June 2007 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Next Wednesday sees a special Blue Peter programme which will go behind-the-scenes of Doctor Who with David Tennant. The show will be on before the regular programme, and is broadcast at 4:35pm.

(Though not mentioned in the Radio Times write-up for the programme, it is likely that this special will feature the winner of their competition last year to appear in an episode of the current series - see our news from 3rd December for more details).




FILTER: - Special Events - Radio Times

Sea Devil Costume To Be Auctioned

Sunday, 27 May 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive

A complete Sea Devil costume is to be auctioned at Bonhams next month.

The auctioneers say it is believed to be the only existing outfit from the 1972 Jon Pertwee story.

It is listed as being complete with string vest, belt and a replica weapon, and comes with a letter of provenance. An estimate of 8,000 to 10,000 pounds has been placed on the lot.

The auction will take place on June 20 at Bonhams' Knightsbridge saleroom as part of a film and rock 'n' roll memorabilia sale.

Outpost Gallifrey reported on Friday that The Sea Devils is to be released on DVD.

(Thanks to Jonathan Wilkinson)

UPDATE - 8 June 2007: This item has now been withdrawn from sale.




FILTER: - Merchandise - Special Events

Luther Arkwright Show

Wednesday, 23 May 2007 - Reported by Jarrod Cooper

On this week's I'm ready for my close-up, Alex Fitch's guests are Bryan Talbot and Mark Wright, creator and adaptor respectively of The Adventures of Luther Arkwright. Alex will be talking to Bryan about his career in comics, focusing on Luther and Alice in Sunderland and asking Mark about the challenges of converting a graphic novel to the audio medium. There's also a competition to win one of 5 signed copies of the Big Finishaudio adaptation of Luther Arkwright starring David Tennant at the end of the show.

The interview with Bryan and Mark is going out May 24th at 10.30pm BST on Resonance 104.4 FM in London, streamedhere.




FILTER: - Special Events - Audio

Moths Eat Toby Hadoke's Doctor Who Scarf on BBC7

Monday, 21 May 2007 - Reported by R Alan Siler

Toby Hadoke's 2006 one-man Edinburgh show Moths Ate My Doctor Who Scarf has been adapted into a full-cast radio show for BBC7.

The autobiographical piece about Hadoke's life-long obsession with the programme features former Doctor Who stars Louise Jameson (as Hadoke's mother) and Colin Baker in the cast. Early Doors star James Quinn plays The Voice Of The BBC, and comic Alfie Joey also plays a number of supporting roles.

Hadoke said: "I can't believe that we got not one, but two Doctor Who actors to throw themselves into the project with much gusto. Louise was always top of the list to play Mum, but we never thought we'd get her. And then when Colin offered his services I turned into a giddy child."

The show has already been recorded at BBC Manchester and will air across two episodes on July 20 and 27.

BBC Audiobooks also plans to release the show on CD at around the same time.

You can still see the show live, though, as Hadoke continues to tour the original one-man version, concluding with a brief run at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe.




FILTER: - Special Events - Radio

A Garden In Time

Friday, 18 May 2007 - Reported by R Alan Siler

The TARDIS will be materialising at the Royal Horticultural SocietyChelsea Flower Show honoring the legacy of Doctor Who. The new exhibition, called A Garden In Time, features as its centrepiece a full-scale TARDIS with sound and light effects. The garden depicts the changes in the world since the birth of the series in 1963. It includes items such as a 1960s Cardiff rugby shirt and a Doctor Who annual featuring on its cover the first Doctor, William Hartnell

Created by Cardiff Council Landscape Officer Mo Dorken and her team, one half of the site shows a 1960s urban garden, while the other half is based around modern gardening ideas and styles with emphasis on sustainability, recycling and climate change.

"The Chelsea Flower Show is iconic and attracts great attention and thousands of visitors from around the world," said Coun Nigel Howells, Cardiff Council's Executive Member for Sport, Leisure and Culture. "We are proud that Cardiff will be represented there, and I’m sure A Garden In Time will do justice to the city and to Wales."

Please click here to see a larger version (in .pdf format) of the conceptual drawing of A Garden In Time.

The Chelsea Flower Show runs 22 - 26 May, 2007.




FILTER: - Special Events

New Dalek Stage Play Trailer

Thursday, 17 May 2007 - Reported by Josiah Rowe

Interalia Theatre have released a new and extended version of the trailer for their forthcoming production of The Dalek Masterplan.

The adapted and condensed stage show of the Hartnell epic will be at theNew Theatre Royal in Portsmouth from October 24 to October 27.

Confirmed celebrity guests at the mini-convention being held at the theatre on October 27 are Nick Briggs, the current voice of the Daleks, who will also be providing the Dalek voices for the stage play, Rob Shearman, who wrote Dalek from the 2005 series, Davros actor Terry Molloy and new series Dalek operator Barnaby Edwards.

Click here to play the new trailer, which begins with action from Interalia's production of The Evil of the Daleks at the same venue last year.




FILTER: - Special Events