Doctor Who Series 10: Blu-ray/DVD releases

Friday, 5 May 2017 - Reported by Chuck Foster

BBC Worldwide have released details on the forthcoming DVD/Blu-ray sets for the current series of Doctor Who:

Doctor Who Series 10: Part 1 on DVD/Bluray (Credit: BBC Worldwide)

Doctor Who Series 10: Part 2 on DVD/Bluray (Credit: BBC Worldwide)

Series 10 artcards (Credit: BBC Worldwide)

Series 10, Peter Capaldi’s final series as the Doctor, will be available to buy in two parts on DVD and Blu-ray, as well as a complete version releasing later this year. Both Parts 1 and 2 are now available for pre-order from Amazon, iTunes and HMV.

Released on the 29th May, Part 1 will cover episodes 1-6 of the Doctor’s latest adventures. The Doctor is keen to show his new friend, Bill Potts, the wonders of the universe, but loveable android Nardole reminds him of an oath he has taken to guard the contents of a mysterious vault.

Part 2, released on 17th July, features episodes 7-12 in which the Doctor’s travels bring him face-to-face with Ice Warriors and Cybermen. His adventures draw to a terrifying conclusion as a long lost face from the past returns.

Both Parts will also include six, exclusive art-cards, which are themed to each episode.

Bonus material for both Parts 1 and 2 will include an Inside Look feature for each of the twelve episodes. The episodic features will include behind the scenes footage; cast interviews and the inside story.

Full details of bonus material for the Complete Series DVD & BD will be announced in due course and will include the Binaural Sound edition of episode 4, Knock, Knock. Binaural Sound gives an immersive spatial sound experience for headphone listeners.

FILTER: - BBC Worldwide - Blu-ray/DVD - Merchandise - Peter Capaldi - Series 10/36

Competition Roundup

Thursday, 4 May 2017 - Reported by Chuck Foster

A roundup of competitions now open for entry - all competitions are open worldwide with a closing date of Sunday 14th May.

Event: win tickets to Missing Who [visit event website]

From the epic journeys of Marco Polo, through the sandswept landscape of Troy, the Dalek infested colony of Vulcan, to the weed controlled oil rigs of the North Sea; many of Doctor Who's greatest adventures no longer exist for us to watch. There are currently 97 missing episodes of Doctor Who; this day will look at these lost tales, and the stories of those returned to the archives, with the stars who appeared in the them, the crew who made them, the team who restored them, and the valiant work of those who have returned them. We shall also be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the television debut of Deborah Watling as scream queen Victoria Waterfield, who first appeared in episode two of The Evil of the Daleks, broadcast on this day in 1967!

We are delighted to be able to offer readers a chance to win two tickets to the Missing Who convention, which takes place at Watersmeet, High Street, Rickmansworth, WD3 1EH, United Kingdom on Saturday 27th May 2017. The competition is open worldwide, but is only applicable to the tickets themselves - entrants must be able to make their own way to the venue.

To enter, simply send an email with your name, address and where you heard about the competition (news site, news app, other website, etc.) to comp-fantom@doctorwhonews.net with the subject "I want them returned!". Only one entry per household will be accepted.

Audio Download: Philip Hinchcliffe Presents: The Helm Of Awe [pre-order from Amazon UK]

Philip Hinchcliffe, acclaimed producer of Doctor Who (1975-77) returns to tell new stories for the Fourth Doctor and Leela. The TARDIS arrives on the remote Shetland isle of Bothness and the Doctor and Leela find themselves threatened by Vikings! Only all is not as it seems. The locals are celebrating the old Norse fire festival of Up Helly Aa, so there’s nothing to be worried about. Or is there? For, unknown to the islanders, the TARDIS crew are on the trail of an ancient artefact invested with mysterious powers that has recently been stolen and brought to this remote location. Somewhere on this island lurks something ancient, and evil, and alien. The Doctor and Leela will have to stop it. Only on this occasion time might not be on their side.

Philip Hinchcliffe Presents: The Helm Of Awe (Credit: Big Finish)

To be in with a chance to win a digital download of the audio adventure courtesy of Big Finish, simply answer the following question:

Name a televised story that was based in Scotland.

Please send your answer along with your name and the email address you have registered with Big Finish, plus where you heard about the competition (news site, news app, other website, etc.) to comp-php@doctorwhonews.net with the subject "Hello!". Note: entrants must have an active registration with Big Finish in order to be eligible to receive the prize - new registrations can be easily created on the website for free and with no financial obligation. There is also a free Big Finish app for Apple and Android.

DVD: MythMakers: Matthew Waterhouse [order from Galaxy 4]

"Going from CASTROVALVA to FOUR TO DOOMSDAY to KINDA...those stories are all very distinctive, all very different to each other...and all really effective in different ways" MATTHEW WATERHOUSE is best known for playing the alien teenage mathematician ADRIC in two seasons of the original run of DOCTOR WHO, the youngest companion in the history of the series. In the years since, he has continued to work extensively as an actor in the theatre and in DOCTOR WHO and DARK SHADOWS for BIG FINISH. He is also the author of five books, including a bestseller about DOCTOR WHO and a collection of stories SUGAR. In this MYTH MAKERS, ROBERT DICK takes MATTHEW back to the locations used for the DOCTOR WHO story BLACK ORCHID and delves deep into this rich history, bringing out an evocative and candid interview about working on classic DOCTOR WHO

MythMakers: Matthew Waterhouse (Credit: Reeltime Productions)

We are delighted to be able to offer readers a chance to win a signed copy of the DVD courtesy of Galaxy 4; simply answer the following question:

What was the name of Matthew Waterhouse's autobiography?

Please send your answers along with your name, address and where you heard about the competition (news site, news app, other website, etc.) to comp-mw@doctorwhonews.net with the subject "Was I right?". Only one entry per household will be accepted.

BBC Audio: Four To Doomsday [order from Amazon UK]

Matthew Waterhouse narrates this novelisation of a classic 1982 TV serial featuring the Fifth Doctor, as played on TV by Peter Davison. When the TARDIS materialises on an alien spacecraft, the commander of the ship - the reptilian Monarch - invites the Doctor, Adric, Nyssa and Tegan to continue their journey to Earth in his company. Monarch's hospitality even extends to a generous offer to liberate the time travellers from the shortcomings of their bodies and replicate them as androids - so much more practical. Although Adric finds this proposal extremely attractive, the Doctor has good reason to be suspicious of Monarch's motives....

Doctor Who - Four To Doomsday (Credit: BBC Audio)

To be in with a chance to win the audiobook courtesy of BBC Audio, simply answer the following question:

What was the name of the surveillance devices used by Monarch on his ship?

Please send your answers along with your name, address and where you heard about the competition (news site, news app, other website, etc.) to comp-fourtodoomsday@doctorwhonews.net with the subject "Flesh Time". Only one entry per household will be accepted.

BBC Audio: The Mind of Evil [order from Amazon UK]

Richard Franklin narrates the exciting novelisation of a classic TV adventure featuring the Third Doctor, as played byJon Pertwee. Eminent scientist Emil Keller has developed a revolutionary new process for the treatment of hardened criminals. His invention, the Keller Machine, is being heralded as a major scientific breakthrough. But Professor Keller is in truth the Master, and the Keller Machine is much more than a mere machine. Soon the Doctor, Jo, the Brigadier and UNIT are involved in a bitter struggle with the Master, an alien mind parasite, and a diabolical scheme to plunge the world into a Third World War....

Doctor Who - The Mind Of Evil (Credit: BBC Audio)

To be in with a chance to win the audiobook courtesy of BBC Audio, simply answer the following question:

Name the (credited) member of UNIT who only appears in this story and the following The Claws of Axos.

Please send your answers along with your name, address and where you heard about the competition (news site, news app, other website, etc.) to comp-mindofevil@doctorwhonews.net with the subject "Keller's fancy". Only one entry per household will be accepted.

BBC Audio: The Classic TV Adventures Collection One [order from Amazon UK]

Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker star as the Doctor in these seven narrated full-cast TV soundtracks of classic Doctor Who TV serials. The stories are 'The Tomb of the Cybermen' (narrated by Frazer Hines); 'Doctor Who and the Silurians' (narrated by Caroline John); 'The Sea Devils' (narrated by Katy Manning); 'The Curse of Peladon' (narrated by Katy Manning); 'The Monster of Peladon' (narrated by Elisabeth Sladen); 'The Pirate Planet' (narrated by John Leeson); and 'Destiny of the Daleks' (narrated by Lalla Ward). Also includes bonus interviews with the narrators in which they each recall their time as the Doctor's companion in the BBC TV series.

Doctor Who: Classic TV Adventures - Collection One (Credit: BBC Audio)

To be in with a chance to win the audiobook courtesy of BBC Audio, simply answer the following question:

Tomb of the Cybermen was originally narrated by somebody other than Frazer Hines - who was that person?

Please send your answers along with your name, address and where you heard about the competition (news site, news app, other website, etc.) to comp-classictv@doctorwhonews.net with the subject "Easy Listening". Only one entry per household will be accepted.

BBC Audio: The Lost Planet [order from Amazon UK]

Nicola Bryant reads an exciting original story featuring the 12th Doctor, as played on TV by Peter Capaldi, and his companions Brandon and Alex.The TARDIS is under attack. Alien plants have taken root in its corridors, strange flowering tendrils that threaten to rip the Doctor’s ship apart. New companions Brandon and Alex venture into the heart of the TARDIS to discover the source of the infestation. Instead they find a secret door, and a forgotten world. The Doctor has unfinished business with the Arborites, living trees with long memories. Centuries ago he fought to prevent a galactic catastrophe - but now his past has come back to haunt him in ways he never thought possible. Can the Time Lord rescue his young friends before they are destroyed by his past mistakes, or will Hirolth rise to leave utter devastation in its wake?

To be in with a chance to win the audiobook courtesy of BBC Audio, simply answer the following question:

Name another story which featured sentient trees.

Please send your answers along with your name, address and where you heard about the competition (news site, news app, other website, etc.) to comp-lostplanet@doctorwhonews.net with the subject "Haunted Memories". Only one entry per household will be accepted.

FILTER: - BBC Audio - Big Finish - Competitions

Doctor Who Magazine: 512

Thursday, 4 May 2017 - Reported by Marcus

Issue 512 of Doctor Who Magazine includes an exclusive interview with guest star David Suchet who plays the enigmatic Landlord in this weeks episode Knock Knock…

I suppose I so became so associated with Poirot, but when they invited me to Doctor Who, I said yes before I'd even read the script!

Because it's Doctor Who! It's the most iconic series, even more so than Poirot. To have that opportunity was the greatest privilege.

ALSO INSIDE THE ISSUE…

NEW EPISODE PREVIEWS!
NTERVIEWS WITH THE WRITERS!

Frank Cottrell-Boyce

Sarah Dollard

MEET THE DIRECTOR!

Lawrence Gough

THE SOUL GARDEN!

Scott Gray

Martin Geraghty

MONOID MANIA!

The Ark

REVIEWS
COMING SOON
PLUS! All the latest official news, the Watcher's column, competitions and the DWM crossword!

Doctor Who Magazine 512 is on sale from Thursday 4 May 2017, price £5.99.

The Essential Doctor Who: Robots (Credit: Panini)

Also Available

The Essential Doctor Who: Robots

Panini’s series of publications devoted to key aspects of the Doctor Who universe continues with an issue devoted to robots. The Doctor’s deadliest adversaries include mechanical killers such as the Yeti, the Voc robots and the clockwork droids. For more than five decades the series has realised some of our darkest fears about artificial intelligence and mankind’s relationship with its automated servants.

This 116-page bookazine includes interviews with:

Chris Boucher (writer of The Robots of Death)
Michael Kilgarriff (Robot)
John Leeson (voice of K9)
Tom MacRae (writer of The Girl Who Waited)
Dave Martin (K9’s co-creator)
Paul Murphy (director of The Caretaker and Robot of Sherwood)
Paul Tams (co-creator of the K9 television series)
Kate Walshe (visual effects producer)

The classic story guides include The War Machines, The Web of Fear, The Android Invasion, The Girl in the Fireplace, The Husbands of River Song and many more.

Among the other highlights are The Vampire Planet (an unproduced William Emms story from 1969), the strange story of the Mechonoids, a look at the Out of the Unknown episode that gave us the Mind Robber robots, Douglas Adams’ original notes for the Polyphase Avatron, the rise and fall of Kamelion and the history of robot comic strips.

Editor Marcus Hearn says:

2017 marks the 40th anniversary of K9’s first appearance in Doctor Who, so he looms large in our journey through more than 50 years of the series’ robots. It must be said that most of the mechanical characters we’re featuring aren’t quite as friendly as the Doctor’s dog...

The Essential Doctor Who: Robots is on sale now price £9.99.

Doctor Who Magazine Special Edition 46: Toys & Games (Credit: Panini)

Doctor Who Magazine Special Edition 46: Toys & Games

The latest Special Edition of Doctor Who Magazine is devoted to the many Doctor Who toys and games that have been released since the early 1960s.

One hundred pages of all-new content includes surveys of the items produced in each decade, a feature on the rarest Doctor Who toy of all, the untold story of 1965’s Zarbi puppets and a ringside seat at a board-game marathon.

Other highlights include a detailed analysis of Denys Fisher’s 1970s range of Doctor Who toys and exclusive interviews with the people behind the Dapol, Product Enterprise, Character and BIG Chief collectables.

Editor Marcus Hearn says:

It’s been more than 30 years since Doctor Who Magazine devoted an issue to merchandise, so it’s a subject well worth revisiting. This is the most ambitious Special Edition that I’ve worked on, and it was a real labour of love for all of us.

Bursting with new information, discoveries from the archive and specially commissioned photography, this is the surprising story of Doctor Who toys and games – told by the people who make, sell and collect them.

Doctor Who Magazine Special Edition: Toys & Games is on sale now price £5.99 (US: $11.99).

FILTER: - DWM

BBC Worldwide and Skype to launch Doctor Who Bot

Wednesday, 3 May 2017 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Doctor Who Bot (Credit: BBC Worldwide / Skype)

BBC Worldwide and Skype have today announced the launch of the first ever Doctor Who Bot. The Doctor will open the TARDIS doors and invite players to help him save the Universe in an exciting interactive digital experience titled The Saviour of Time. The brand new bot uses the latest technology to deliver a unique experience between the Doctor and the player.

In a world first, users get the thrilling opportunity to be the Doctor's companion as the bot immerses them in a specially-written six-part Doctor Who adventure. Players will experience the Doctor communicating with them directly and setting them challenges that can only be solved by the best companions.

Launching across multiple territories today, 3rd May, the bot includes challenges, logic puzzles, and quizzes, revolving around the search for a mysterious artefact known as the Key To Time. Scattered throughout time and space, users must locate all six segments of the Key and restore it, in order to save the Universe.

Following the launch today, a new Chapter will be released every Sunday at 6 PM (BST), shortly after episodes of Doctor Who series 10 air on BBC One, BBC AMERICA (USA), Space (Canada), ABC (Australia) and in other key international markets.

Jaclyn Lee-Joe, Chief Marketing Officer at BBC Worldwide said:

It’s hugely exciting to be launching a Doctor Who Bot on Skype - which gives us the opportunity to deliver a new form of digital story-telling with our cutting-edge brand. Through this new innovation we get to experience first-hand how bots can help deliver digital first content, and immerse audiences, old and new, in the Doctor Who universe like never before.

Steven Abrahams, Group Product Manager, Studios and Strategic Partnerships for Skype said:

Our goal is for everyone in the world to experience the best Skype has to offer and the Doctor Who bot with BBC Worldwide brings a range of new features and functionality. We’re excited to see the bot bring users and fans one step closer to meeting the iconic Doctor.

The bot will feature exclusive voice-over from Twelfth Doctor Peter Capaldi, and is creatively developed by writing talent Joseph Lidster (The Sarah Jane Adventures, Torchwood).

The Doctor Who Bot builds upon existing relationships between BBC Worldwide and Skype, working together to uncover exciting new ways to reach audiences. In 2015 Skype launched the shareable, movie and TV clips initiative, Skype Mojis – featuring exhilarating short-form content from Top Gear, Doctor Who, and Sherlock.

To add the Doctor Who Bot manually, users need to search for “Doctor Who Bot” in the Skype Bot Directory, read the bot’s profile and terms, and then click “Add to Contacts”. To see new updates as they begin to roll out, users need to be on the latest Skype app for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, or Web.

The Doctor Who Bot will be available from the Skype Bot directory in the US, Canada, UK, Australia, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand, India, Singapore, Italy, Spain, France, Netherlands, Austria, Sweden, Czech Republic, Estonia, Portugal, Russia, Mexico, and Brazil.

Click here to add the Doctor Who bot to Skype and start saving the universe! Visit the Skype blog for more information on the bot and click here for a step-to-step guide on how to use the bot.

FILTER: - BBC Worldwide

Moray Watson 1928-2017

Wednesday, 3 May 2017 - Reported by Marcus

The actor Moray Watson has died at the age of 88.

Moray Watson appeared in the 1982 Doctor Who story Black Orchid, where he played Sir Robert Muir, the Chief Constable of Oxfordshire and a friend of the Cranleigh family.

Watson was born in Berkshire in 1928. He trained at The Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art and made early appearances in London's West End. In 1953 he made his Television debut, appearing in the much acclaimed BBC series The Quatermass Experiment. A long career in British Television followed including a regular role as the Art Editor, Richard Lowe, in the BBC series Compact. He appeared in Silas Marner, No Wreath for the General, Laughter from the Whitehall, Z Cars and Upstairs, Downstairs as well as many appearances in one-off plays in series such as Thirty-Minute Theatre and The Wednesday Play.

In 1971 he played Lord Collingford in the children's series Catweazle and in 1974 played Barrington Erle in the BBC adaptation Anthony Trollope's The Pallisers. He played Angus Kinloch in the Cold War thriller series Quiller and Chief Constable Chubb in Murder Most English

In the 1980's he played Mr. Bennet in the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice and Wordsworth in the comedy Union Castle. Other notable apperances included parts in Agatha Christie's Miss Marple: The Body in the Library, Minder, Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years, The Professionals, Rude Health, Rumpole of the Bailey and The House of Eliott.

In 1991 he played the Brigadier in the ITV version of The Darling Buds of May .

He appeared in several films, including Operation Crossbow and The Grass Is Greener, in which he played opposite Cary Grant, Deborah Kerr, Robert Mitchum and Jean Simmons.

Moray Watson appeared in several one-man shows, including The Incomparable Max based on the life and work of Max Beerbohm and Ancestral Voices, based on the diaries if James Lees Milne. His final show, Looking Back and Dropping Names was written and devised by himself based on his own life as an actor. It was published in book form in September 2016.

FILTER: - Classic Series - Obituary

Knock Knock - Binaural Edition

Tuesday, 2 May 2017 - Reported by Marcus

The BBC has confirmed that this week's episode of Doctor Who, Knock Knock, will be available on the BBC iPlayer in special binaural edition, available immediately after the episode has broadcast on BBC One.

Binaural is a method of sound reproduction that is intended to replicate the way the human brain understands sound to give the listener as natural an experience as possible. Rather than using a series of speakers to reproduce a soundscape, the Binaural process records sound using two microphones separated by the width of a human head. When listening to the replay through headphones, the effect is to replicate the sound going into each ear giving the listener the effect of actually being in the room where the sound was recorded.

The binaural edition of Knock Knock will be available on BBC iPlayer from 8.10pm on Saturday, 6 May.

The binaural process can be heard on the preview clip on the official BBC Doctor Who page. To experience it you need to listen to the clip on headphones.

FILTER: - Production - Series 10/36

Smile - Official Ratings

Tuesday, 2 May 2017 - Reported by Marcus

Official figures released by the Broadcasters’ Audience Research Board or BARB, gives Doctor Who - Smile an official rating of 5.98 million viewers.

The rating includes all those who recorded the programme and watched it within 7 days.

Doctor Who is the 23rd most watched programme for the week, and 8th most watched on BBC One

Top for the week was incoming showrunner Chris Chibnall's Broadchurch, starring David Tennant, which beat ITV's Britain's Got Talent, to take the top place with 11.61 million watching. Unlike last week , Doctor Who sliped behind the soaps EastEnders and Emmerdale as well as Coronation Street.

Doctor Who remained the top BBC One programme for Saturday night, just ahead of the entertainment show All Round to Mrs Brown's

FILTER: - Ratings - Series 10/36 - UK

Knock Knock - New Images

Tuesday, 2 May 2017 - Reported by Marcus

The BBC have released a number of new publicity images to promote this week's episode of Doctor Who, Knock Knock

Knock Knock

Writer: Mike Bartlett
Director: Bill Anderson

Bill is moving in with some friends and they’ve found the perfect house - so what if it’s strangely cheap to rent, and the landlord is a little creepy?
The wind blows, the floorboards creak, and the Doctor thinks something is very wrong. What lurks in the strange tower at the heart of the building - and why can’t they find any way to enter it?

"We Should Get The Doctor" - Knock Knock Preview

BBC One continues to show Doctor Who at 7;20pm, with BBC First simulcasting the episode across the Middle-East

Thin Ice: Known Broadcast Details
United Kingdom	BBC One	Sat 6 May 2017	7:20pm BST
Middle East	BBC First	Sat 6 May 2017	9:20pm AST	(Sat 7:20pm BST)
United States of America	BBC America	Sat 6 May 2017	9:00pm EDT	(Sun 2:00am BST)
Canada	SPACE	Sat 6 May 2017	9:00pm EDT	(Sun 2:00am BST)
Finland	YLE2	Sun 7 May 2017	11:00am EEST	(Sun 9:00am BST)
Australia	ABC	Sun 7 May 2017	7:40pm AEST	(Sun 10:40am BST, also on ABC ME)
Brazil	SyFy	Sun 7 May 2017	8:00pm BRT	(Sun 11:00pm BST)
Latin America	SyFy	Sun 7 May 2017	11:00pm CDT	(Mon 4:00am BST)
New Zealand	PRIME	Sun 7 May 2017	7:30pm NZST	(Mon 8:30am BST)

FILTER: - Press - Series 10/36

Thin Ice - Audience Appreciation:84

Monday, 1 May 2017 - Reported by Marcus

Doctor Who - Thin Ice had an Audience Appreciation or Ai figure of 84

The Appreciation Index in an indication of how much viewers enjoyed the episode. It is based to the reactions of a selected panel of viewers, who rate the episode shortly after transmission.

84 is considered a good score, roughly similar to the scores achieved by the last series of the show,

The highest score for the evening on the two main channels was achieved by Casualty on BBC One which scored 87.

FILTER: - Ratings - Series 10/36 - UK

Australian overnight ratings for Thin Ice & final ratings for The Pilot

Monday, 1 May 2017 - Reported by Adam Kirk

Thin Ice has debuted in Australia, averaging 473,000 viewers in the five major capital cities. The story was the second highest rating ABC drama of the day and the eleventh highest rating program of the day overall. These ratings do not include iview, regional or time-shifted viewers.

Meanwhile, including time-shifted viewers, The Pilot averaged 594,000 consolidated viewers in the five major capital cities. With 99,000 extra viewers it was the second highest time-shifted program of the day (the highest time-shifted program had 116,000 extra viewers) and the seventh highest rating program of the day overall. These ratings do not include iview or regional viewers.

Media Links: TV Tonight (Thin Ice ratings); TV Tonight (The Pilot ratings)

FILTER: - Australia - Broadcasting - Ratings - Series 10/36