Class Officially Cancelled

Thursday, 7 September 2017 - Reported by Marcus

Class - Ep6 - Detained - April (SOPHIE HOPKINS), Matteusz (JORDAN RENZO), Ram (FADY ELSAYED), Tanya (VIVIAN OPARAH), Charlie (GREG AUSTIN) (Credit: BBC/Simon Ridgeway)

Doctor Who spin off Class has been officially cancelled by the BBC.

The news was confirmed by BBC Three controller Damian Kavanagh speaking today at a Broadcasting Press Guild.

No, [we're not bringing it back]. There was nothing wrong with it – I thought Patrick did a great job, he explored an amazing world.

In honesty, it just didn't really land for us on BBC Three. Things sometimes don't, and I've got to make decisions about what we're going to do from a drama point of view.

There are always times when you do something and you have to decide that it's not going to come back. Class is just one of those things.

Class was created to appeal to the young adult market and initially released in the UK on BBC Three, now an online only platform. It was hoped that high-quality original content would drive young viewers to the online station. However, the decision meant that Class was initially only seen by a fraction of the audience it would have received on a broadcast channel.

The series was later screened on BBC One, but as a late night double bill, where it struggled to find an audience, getting viewing figures around a third of the timeslot average.

In June, writer, and creator of the series, Patrick Ness announced that he would not be involved in any future commission of Class and today the BBC finally confirmed that the Corporation would not be making any more episodes.

FILTER: - BBC - Class

BBC Responds to Complaints About Casting

Wednesday, 19 July 2017 - Reported by Marcus

The BBC has issued a formal response to complaints about the casting of Jodie Whittaker as the thirteenth Doctor.

Since the news was released on Sunday, the Corporation has received a number of complaints about the casting decision.

As part of its complaints procedure it has now responded.

Since the first Doctor regenerated back in 1966, the concept of the Doctor as a constantly evolving being has been central to the programme. The continual input of fresh ideas and new voices across the cast and the writing and production teams has been key to the longevity of the series.

The Doctor is an alien from the planet Gallifrey and it has been established in the show that Time Lords can switch gender.

As the Controller of BBC Drama has said, Jodie is not just a talented actor but she has a bold and brilliant vision for her Doctor. She aced it in her audition both technically and with the powerful female life force she brings to the role. She is destined to be an utterly iconic Doctor.

We hope viewers will enjoy what we have in store for the continuation of the story.

FILTER: - BBC - Thirteenth Doctor

Doctor Who Reveal Has Record Viewings

Tuesday, 18 July 2017 - Reported by Marcus

The BBC have revealed that the video announcing Jodie Whittaker as the Thirteenth Doctor received over sixteen million views online

The minute-long specially shot scene debuted on BBC One after the Men’s Wimbledon final on Sunday, where just over 5 million viewers saw it. It was also released on BBC social media channels around the world.

The reveal has been watched 9.8 million times on the BBC One Facebook channel so far, with over 2.5 million views on the Doctor Who Twitter account - making it the most successful tweet of all time for Doctor Who.

Piers Wenger, Controller of BBC Drama, says:

To see the overwhelmingly positive response to the news that Jodie Whittaker will star as the Thirteenth Doctor, and know that the reveal has had over sixteen million views online so far, is just phenomenal. It’s exhilarating to see Doctor Who engaging with people on so many different levels and I cannot wait for the audience to see her in action on BBC ONE this Christmas.

The teaser trailer, which debuted on Friday evening before the BBC One 6 O’Clock News, has been watched a further 4.8 million times online.

Jodie Whittaker will make her debut as the Doctor in this year’s Doctor Who Christmas special, when the current Doctor – played by Peter Capaldi - will regenerate.

FILTER: - BBC - Thirteenth Doctor

Thirteenth Doctor announced!

Sunday, 16 July 2017 - Reported by Chuck Foster

The BBC have announced the thirteenth official Doctor is to be played by:

Jodie Whittaker

Born in 1982, Jodie Auckland Whittaker is an English actress from Yorkshire who has worked in theatre and televison since the mid-2000s. Notable on-screen roles have included Izzy Huett in Tess of the D'Urbervilles, Louise Evans in Wired, Peggy Bell in Cranford, Ruth Bowen in Marchlands, Trish Tooley in The Smoke, and Sandy Grimes in The Assets

She is perhaps best known, however, for her portrayal of Beth Latimer alongside former Doctor David Tennant's Alec Hardy in the ITV drama Broadchurch, a series also penned by incoming lead writer and executive producer for Doctor Who, Chris Chibnall.

The actress said:

I’m beyond excited to begin this epic journey with Chris and with every Whovian on this planet. It’s more than an honour to play the Doctor. It means remembering everyone I used to be, while stepping forward to embrace everything the Doctor stands for: hope. I can’t wait.

Chibnall added:

I always knew I wanted the Thirteenth Doctor to be a woman and we're thrilled to have secured our number one choice. Her audition for The Doctor simply blew us all away. Jodie is an in-demand, funny, inspiring, super-smart force of nature and will bring loads of wit, strength and warmth to the role. The Thirteenth Doctor is on her way.

Outgoing Doctor Peter Capaldi observed:

Anyone who has seen Jodie Whittaker’s work will know that she is a wonderful actress of great individuality and charm. She has above all the huge heart to play this most special part. She’s going to be a fantastic Doctor.

Charlotte Moore, BBC Director of BBC Content:

Making history is what Doctor Who is all about and Chris Chibnall’s bold new take on the next Time Lord is exactly that. The nation is going to fall in love with Jodie Whittaker - and have lots of fun too!

Piers Wenger, Controller BBC Drama, said:

Jodie is not just a talented actor but she has a bold and brilliant vision for her Doctor. She aced it in her audition both technically and with the powerful female life force she brings to the role. She is destined to be an utterly iconic Doctor.

Matt Strevens, Executive Producer, said:

I'm so thrilled that Jodie Whittaker said yes to playing the Doctor. I've been a fan for years and always hoped to work with her. She is an actor of great emotional range and inhabits every role with complete passion and conviction. Just thinking about what she will bring to the Doctor makes me as excited as a kid at Christmas. It's going to be a lot of fun.

Meet the Thirteenth Doctor (via YouTube)

FILTER: - BBC - Leading News - series 11/37

Doctor Who Experience Seeks Summer Hosts

Wednesday, 7 June 2017 - Reported by Marcus

BBC Worldwide are looking for people to work at the Doctor Who Experience in Cardiff this summer.

Fixed term Summer contracts are being offered to support the core team at the Experience during peak periods over the holiday period before the Experience closes its doors later this year.

Successful candidates will be expected to deliver excellent customer service and interact with guests at every opportunity. They will need to be able to answer visitor questions and deal with queries as well as assisting visitors who have special requirements, as well as assisting with large groups and school parties. You must be able to work on a rota basis including weekends, Bank Holidays and evenings.

The BBC is looking for people with a personable and friendly manner with the ability to work within a fast paced team environment. Fluency in a second language is useful as is enjoyment and knowledge of Doctor Who, including the classic series.

The closing date for applicants is 7 July 2017.

Full details can be found at BBC Career Search

FILTER: - BBC Worldwide - Doctor Who Experience

BBC Store to Close in November

Thursday, 25 May 2017 - Reported by Marcus

BBC Worldwide has announced that the BBC Store website and apps will be closing on 1st November 2017.

The BBC Store was launched in the UK in November 2015, giving users the ability to download programmes from the extensive BBC archive. It was the platform chosen to launch the animated version of The Power of the Daleks last autumn. However, the service has struggled to compete with the established streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime and BBC Worldwide have taken the decision to close the service.

Users who have purchased items from the site will be able to download and watch them until the site closes in November. The items will then become unavailable and users will be able to request a refund. From 1st June you will no longer be able to watch programmes you purchased from BBC Store on BBC iPlayer.

Refunds can be processed earlier than November, but you will lose the ability to access your programmes once the refund has been issued. Refunds will either be credited to the user's bank account or can be taken as Amazon Video vouchers. Those who opt for vouchers will receive 10% more than they are owed, as a goodwill gesture. For full details logon to the BBC Store website.

A statement on the BBC Store website says the BBC will continue to find new ways of making BBC archive content available.

FILTER: - BBC Worldwide

Doctor Who's Chinese expansion + Series 15 in pipeline

Thursday, 25 May 2017 - Reported by Marcus

BBC Worldwide have issued a press release indicating that the entire catalogue of Doctor Who related shows will be made available in China via Shanghai Media Group Pictures, which includes a first look at Doctor Who up to its fifteenth series!

BBC Worldwide/SMG Pictures Doctor Who agreement (25 May 2017) (Credit: BBC Worldwide)

BBC Worldwide today announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with leading Chinese media company, Shanghai Media Group Pictures (SMG Pictures) that will see expansion of the Doctor Who brand in China.

The MOU was inked yesterday evening at a signing ceremony at BBC Worldwide’s Television Centre in London, with Mr Chen Sijie, GM of SMG Pictures and Jaclyn-Lee Joe, Chief Marketing Officer, BBC Worldwide. Madam Wang Jianjun, Director General President of Shanghai Media Group, Tim Davie, Chief Executive of BBC Worldwide and Kelvin Yau, GM, Greater China, BBC Worldwide witnessed the event.

The agreement will see BBC Worldwide working with SMG Pictures to increase the Doctor Who fan base in China, exploring future opportunities as well as exchanging expertise between the two teams.

The MOU comes on the back of a content deal that BBC Worldwide also signed with SMG Pictures yesterday evening. The deal will see the entire catalogue of Doctor Who including spin-offs, Torchwood and Class available on popular TV channels and on-demand platforms all over China.

The deal not only covers Showrunners Russell T Davies and Steven Moffat’s Series 1- 10, but also incoming Showrunner Chris Chibnall’s yet-to-film Series 11, well as a first look for Series 12-15.

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

This marks the start of a longer and even more fruitful partnership with SMGP,” said . “Doctor Who already has a substantial fan base in China. Now, Chinese fans will be able to access the entire catalogue of Doctor Who and its spin-offs thanks to this agreement. The MOU is an affirmation of both parties’ commitment to build the Doctor Who brand and grow its fan base in China.

Chen Sijie, General Manager, SMG Pictures, said:

China is going through a time of tremendous growth and rapid market development. Everyone here is curious about popular cultures around the world. At the same time, they want to share their Chinese culture and values. Doctor Who, with its long television history and iconic place in popular culture, is a great representative of British pop culture. We hope that this partnership with BBC Worldwide will enable both parties, as well as Chinese and British fans to share and exchange ideas and learnings to grow the universe of Doctor Who in China.

BBC Worldwide and Oriental Pearl Group previously worked together on the theatrical release of Sherlock – The Abominable Bride as well as the upcoming launch of One Amazing Day a co-production with SMG Pictures. The entire catalogue of Top Gear, Top Gear UK and all the UK specials, as well as five series of Top Gear USA, six series of Top Gear Korea and both series of Top Gear China has also recently launched on BesTV, SMG’s linear television service. There has also been a CBeebies programming block on BesTV since 2014.

Shanghai Media Group Pictures is the film business unit of Oriental Pearl Group, held by Shanghai Media Group.
Doctor Who is a BBC Studios production for BBC One and a BBC AMERICA co-production.

FILTER: - BBC Worldwide

Now We Are Six Hundred

Thursday, 18 May 2017 - Reported by Chuck Foster

BBC Books have announced a new hardback book for the summer to tie in with National Poetry Day:

Now We Are Six Hundred (Credit: BBC Books)

BBC Books Publishing Director Albert DePetrillo has acquired Doctor Who: Now We Are Six Hundred, the very first collection of Time Lord verse. BBC Books have world rights, with North American rights sold to HarperCollins.

A gentle and humorous riff on the classic Now We Are Six, this is a collection of charming, funny and whimsical poems that celebrate the joys, sorrows and wonders of Time Lord life. Written by author James Goss, the book features illustrations by former Doctor Who Executive Producer Russell T Davies – his first role as an illustrator, using the comic artist skills he developed in his youth.

Albert DePetrillo says:

This is a book I’ve long wanted to publish, and James and Russell have realised the idea brilliantly, well beyond anything I’d hoped. It’s something very special, a unique gift for every Doctor Who fan. For full effect, please be sure to read these poems aloud to your friends, preferably more than once.

James Goss says:

BBC Books have carefully baited an irresistible trap to lure people into reading poetry. Russell's beautiful illustrations make this the most charming Doctor Who book there's ever been (and I'm including that magical first Doctor Who book you discovered as a child). The poems have been a delight to work on. Who could resist retelling the fiendish Daleks’ Masterplan in verse, or finding bizarre and ludicrous rhymes for monster names?

Russell T Davies says:

I’ve been drawing for Doctor Who long before I was writing it, so it was like time-travel for me, voyaging back to that young scribbler who used to cover his school desk with Daleks!

Doctor Who: Now We Are Six Hundred will be published in hardback on 14th September, two weeks before National Poetry Day on 28th September.

FILTER: - BBC Books - Books - Merchandise - Russell T Davies

Doctor Who: Time Vortex 360

Wednesday, 17 May 2017 - Reported by Chuck Foster

The BBC have announced a new game that can be played on mobile devices:

Doctor Who: Time Vortex 360 (Credit: BBC)

New BBC 360° mobile game lets Doctor Who fans pilot the TARDIS through the vortex

Doctor Who fans can pilot the TARDIS on its most exhilarating journey yet as it careers through the depths of the space time vortex in the BBC’s first ever 360 arcade game, Doctor Who Time Vortex 360.

Fans simply need to visit bbc.in/dw360 using their smartphone or tablet and by physically moving their mobile device through 360 degrees, they will be able to fly the TARDIS within an increasingly turbulent time vortex.

As they speed through time, players will tackle hazards and obstacles emerging from the future ahead of them, but in a unique and literal twist will sometimes need to physically turn themselves to look backwards in time in order to evade threats emerging from the past.

Jo Pearce, creative director, BBC Digital Drama, said:

The beauty of this game is that you can use your mobile phone to fly the TARDIS wherever you are. Digital innovation is at the very heart of Doctor Who – this 360 degree game allows people to navigate the TARDIS through time and space like never before.

We’ve seen a lot of innovation recently in the 360 and virtual reality space, but the majority has focused on ‘experiential’ video-based experiences. This game, however, brings together the worlds of casual, arcade-style gaming and 360/VR to create a fun Doctor Who experience that people can easily pick up and play, wherever they are.

The game is an endless runner, which gets more and more difficult the longer people play, taking them on a visually intense journey through the iconic vortex from the show's opening credits. Using the device's accelerometer, the game is controlled by physically moving around, even giving the player the ability to turn around and travel backwards in time.

Designed as a mobile-first experience for the BBC by Goodboy Digital, the game combines cutting edge HTML5 and WebGL using PixiJS v5.0 to create a breath-taking journey that works on a wide range of hardware.

The game is available to play on BBC Taster, where fans can rate the game and provide feedback.

Watch the Trailer

FILTER: - BBC - Games - Online

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

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