Problems with printing the charity book Behind The Sofa have delayed its publication.

Due out yesterday, it won't be available now until Friday 12th October.

The book, which is being produced to raise money for Alzheimer's Research UK, features more than 100 celebrity reminiscences about Doctor Who, with many of the contributors having close connections to the programme, either in front of or behind the cameras.

Steve Berry, the man whose brainchild it has been, said the final proof files of the book had been signed off by the printer a number of weeks ago but "somewhere along the way, the files were accepted without being checked" and this "led to the last-minute discovery that the book was unsuitable to go to press."

Blaming the production hitch on both his inexperience in preparing a two-colour book for the early production stages of printing and the printer assuming that the book had been correctly supplied by Matador Self-Publishing, Berry has apologised to people who have placed orders and told of his disappointment, saying:
He added:Earlier this year, there were problems between Berry and PayPal following uncertainty about the book's funding but they were resolved, with PayPal apologising to Berry.

Former companion actress Janet Fielding is fighting cancer, it has been revealed.

No more details about her condition are known at the moment but Peter Davison, whose Doctor she appeared opposite as Tegan Jovanka, has won the support of other ex-Doctor actors to launch a charity fund-raising convention - Project MotorMouth - that aims to "not only raise money for a good cause but also keep Janet's spirits up."

Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy, Paul McGann, and David Tennant are the first guests announced for the event, which will take place on Saturday 19th January 2013 at the Copthorne Hotel Slough-Windsor. All guests will be appearing subject to work commitments.

The profits from the convention will go to Project MotorHouse, which is seeking to convert a derelict building in Thanet into a mixed-use venue promoting sustainable technology and a place where youngsters can get help with starting their own businesses. Fielding is the project co-ordinator for the organisation as well as its community champion.

She first appeared in Doctor Who in 1981 in Tom Baker's final story, Logopolis, and left the TV series in the 1984 story Resurrection of the Daleks, but made a cameo reappearance two stories later in a regeneration dream sequence for Davison's swansong The Caves of Androzani.

She has also worked as a theatrical agent - a job that saw her representing McGann when he won the role of the Eighth Doctor - and has played the role of Tegan in a number of audio productions for Big Finish.

With just under a week to go to the Power: Reimagined convention in Fareham and with the event date unfortunately clashing with Asylum of the Daleks, attendees - and potential attendees - will be relieved to know that they won't miss out on seeing the Series 7 opening episode.

The convention is being held on Saturday 1st September to celebrate the fan film Power of the Daleks, based on Patrick Troughton's inaugural story as the Doctor, and the event was, of course, arranged long before the BBC decided when to show Asylum of the Daleks.

The convention organisers won't be screening the episode but event attendee Jeremy Bentham has - independently and with the organisers' blessing - found a nearby pub with two 53-inch plasma screens on which the manager has said he is happy to show Doctor Who that evening.

The pub is The Lord Arthur Lee, in West Street, Fareham, which is just a short walk away from where the convention is being held, at Ferneham Hall in Osborn Road.

Please note that the screening of the episode is not connected with the convention, nor is it a launch party as held by Bentham in London in the past, so there is not exclusive use of the pub. It is simply an informal arrangement to ensure that those attending the convention who also want to see the episode "live" that evening can do so.

The first two parts of the fan film, which stars Nick Scovell as the Doctor and features Lisa Bowerman, Nicholas Briggs, and Barnaby Edwards in the cast, have been released via YouTube, with the third and final part due to be webcast at some point next month. The charity convention will see the first showing of the fan reimagining in full on the big screen and in high definition.

Guests at the convention will include Christopher Barry, who directed the original story, and Anneke Wills, who played companion Polly in the six-part adventure. Michael Troughton - son of Patrick and younger brother of David - was also to have been a guest but has had to pull out, citing personal reasons and commitments, say the organisers.

Money raised by the convention will go to Children In Need and Cancer Research UK.

The second part of the fan-made reimagining of Power of the Daleks went online this evening.

Directed by Nick Scovell, who also plays the Doctor, the film is an adaptation of Patrick Troughton's first story and also features Nicholas Briggs, Lisa Bowerman, and Barnaby Edwards in the cast.


The third and final instalment will be webcast at some point in September, and with some post-production work remaining to be done the "movie" is currently being billed as a "work in progress".

However, the completed film will be shown in full and in high definition on the big screen at a charity convention to celebrate its making. Power: Reimagined is being held on Saturday 1st September at Ferneham Hall in Fareham, where the production was partially filmed. The organisers stress that entry tickets pay for the convention, while the screening is free and non-profit-making.

Guests currently scheduled to appear at the event (subject to work commitments) are Christopher Barry, the director of the original six-part story, Anneke Wills, who played companion Polly in the TV version, Michael Troughton, who has written a biography about his father, Nicholas Briggs, Barnaby Edwards, and the Doctor Who Restoration Team. Also taking place will be photo and autograph sessions. Props from the remake will be on display too, and money raised by the event will go to Children In Need and Cancer Research UK.

Produced by Rob Thrush, the film has been made by the Doctor Who enthusiasts behind the highly successful Portsmouth stage productions of The Web of Fear, Fury From The Deep, The Evil of the Daleks, and The Dalek Masterplan (the latter renamed from the original), with support from TNT Films and music by Martin Johnson. Although the full version cannot be sold for legal reasons, the film's makers say that it might be uploaded to its YouTube channel at some point.

The Power of the Daleks Facebook page has more details about the film project, with discussions on the Facebook group.

United Kingdom:

Space, Time, Machine and Monster: The Science Fiction of Doctor Who is to take place from 6pm tonight in Lacock Church. The talk with CBBC's scientist Mark Brake, rapper Jon Brake and the Bishop of Swindon is described as "a fun exploration of the universe and a chance to discuss science and faith issues". [Corsham People, 20 May 2012]

Nearby Corsham saw Doctor Who stars help raise money for charity earlier in the month, with Colin Baker, Nicola Bryant, John Levene, and Julian Glover among the star names helping to raise £6,620 at the Corsham Sci-Fi Family Funday. Also there mingling with the likes of Daleks and Davros was Doctor Who Magazine artist Mike Collins. [Corsham People, 4 May 2012]

Colin Baker is to appear at a television, film, and toy collectors' fair at the River Park Leisure Centre, Winchester on 9th June (the day after his birthday!). He will be joined by Terry Molloy as Daleks are set to invade the event. [Romsey Advertiser, 21 May 2012]

A six-year-old girl from Kedington has become the envy of collectors after finding a rare item of merchandise. Jessie Spicer bought a £1.50 packet of Lego Doctor Who figures at Hamley's in London and when she opened it she found a Day of the Moon model of the Doctor, of which only 100 have been made. Her mother said: "It was a real Willy Wonka moment for her and we were all really excited about it. She is going to hold on to it as an investment for the future." The figure is currently estimated to be worth up to £600. [Haverhill Weekly News, 4 May 2012]

Meeting rooms at the newly-extended BBC Broadcasting House in London have been brightened up with some familiar faces. Images of the Doctors have been applied to the walls of the cubicles, as can be seen in the picture on the right, which can be clicked on to expand. (With thanks to Rob Fitt for the details)

The PC Support Group in Liverpool counts Doctor Who amongst the company's credits, having provided support to stunt-coordinator/performer Abbi Collins for Dalek co-ordination in the series. Co-founder Simon Albert said: "I've been a huge fan of Dr Who since I was little, so when we got the opportunity to actually work with the people behind the show we all jumped at the chance to get up close with some of its most infamous characters." [Liverpool Daily Post, 18 May 2012]

Boscombe police are hoping to re-introduce police boxes in the high street in order to help combat anti-social behaviour. PC Will Martindale told the local business forum in April: "The Inspector would like to put a 'Tardis' outside McDonald's. There are issues in that area and this would be putting our stamp back in the area." Phil Stanley-Watts, councillor for Boscombe West, has been calling for the return of police boxes in Boscombe for years, saying that updated versions could be used for reporting crime and would make the public feel safer. [Bournemouth Echo, 1 May 2012]

Actress Katy Manning is seeking sponsors for a 10-kilometre charity walk in London later this month.

She will be part of the Gay Times team aiming to raise cash for the Terrence Higgins Trust to support people living with HIV in poverty.

Walk For Life takes place on Sunday 20th May, starting and ending at Potters Field Park in Tooley Street. The theme is Kings and Queens and the route will take in some of the capital's most iconic and regal landmarks. The walkers will be checking in at the park from 9.30am, heading off at 11am, and arriving back about 2pm.

It is not the first time the actress - who played companion Jo Grant from 1971 to 1973 and was a guest star as the married Jo Jones in spin-off series The Sarah Jane Adventures in 2010 - has lent her support this way. In June 2010, she and the Gay Times team raised more than £1,100 on the Crusaid Walk For Life.

Her sponsorship page for this year's walk can be found here.

United Kingdom:

Nick Briggs, Simon Guerrier, Peter Anghelides, and J T Colgan will be lending their authorial talents to Doctor Who creative writing workshops at this year's Winchester Festival. Aimed at youngsters, the workshops will be held at the city's Discovery Centre on Saturday 7th July from 9.30am to 4pm.

Daleks invaded Yeovil as part of the 10th-anniversary celebrations for Yeo Leisure Park. As well as full-size Daleks on show, the charity event also included remote-control Dalek racing. In addition, visitors could see a Cyberman, Scarecrow, Sontaran, K-9, and a TARDIS. [This Is Somerset and The Mary Sue, 19 Apr 2012]

A Dalek had to be manhandled by four people over a roof to get it into a house in Shrewsbury. It was bought by fan Andrew Morris from a children's hospice in Barry Island but when it arrived it proved too big to get through the front door so an alternative entrance had to be figured out – needing extra manpower and some levitation! [Shropshire Star, 25 Apr 2012]

A group of pupils in Guildford who entered the Script To Screen competition may not have won the contest but Steven Moffat was so impressed by their work that he decided to send them goodie bags of Doctor Who items anyway. The entry by the trio from Holy Trinity Pewley Down made it to the final ten. All scripts had to have an Olympic theme, and the one from Holy Trinity Pewley Down saw the Doctor, Amy, and Rory on an alien planet resembling ancient Greece but where the statues turned out to be Weeping Angels. The overall winning school is yet to be named. [Get Surrey, 26 Apr 2012]

The newly-opened Wales Coastal Path gives people the chance to see famous filming locations along its 870 miles, including Portmeirion, which was used for The Masque of Mandragora, and a number of south Wales settings for the revived series. The BBC has uploaded a slideshow of various locations along the route.

Clothes and personal belongings donated by John Barrowman to the Dogs Trust have raised more than £200. We reported in March on the gift to the charity following a spring-clean by the actor, and when the items went on sale at its Cowbridge branch they attracted huge interest, with one fan even travelling some 180 miles from Nottingham to spend £600. [Barry and District News, 18 Apr 2012]

Genuine police boxes have gone on sale in Edinburgh. A total of 22 of the two-tonne constructions are available and no price has been set on them, with offers being accepted until midday on Thursday 31st May. A sales fee of £100 will, however, apply to each box. Designed by Ebenezer MacRae in the 1930s, they differ in appearance to the TARDIS ones, which were designed by Gilbert MacKenzie Trench for the Metropolitan Police in 1929. Buyers will have to remove them or get planning permission and change their colour if they want them to stay in situ. [BBC News, 30 Apr 2012]

CBS TV host Craig Ferguson has taken his Late Late Show to his native country of Scotland. A week of programmes, which see Ferguson exploring Edinburgh, his birth city of Glasgow, and his home town of Cumbernauld, were recorded in March - pictured right - and will start airing on Monday 14th May. [Associated Press via Yahoo! News, 16 Apr 2012]

The Big Lit Day book festival in Gatehouse of Fleet on Saturday 26th May will see Annette Badland make a special guest appearance. She will be giving a reading from The World's Wife, a collection of poems by Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy that imagine wives' perspectives of famous men. The event is part of the Dumfries & Galloway Arts Festival. [Dumfries & Galloway Standard, 27 Apr 2012]

USA :

A Dalek popped up on the roof of MIT's Stata Center, housing the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The appearance follows in the footsteps of the TARDIS a couple of years ago! [Lezgetreal, The Daily What, 28 Apr 2012]

In March we told of an appeal made by Tashi King for a TARDIS urn for the ashes of her terminally-ill husband, Kevin Pratt, when he dies. They have now received just such an urn and have uploaded a video thank-you message. (NB: The video contains Battlestar Galactica-style expletives and one other expletive.) [washandtashiblogspot, 24 Apr 2012]

Following uncertainty about the funding of the charity book, Behind the Sofa, as reported this morning by several press outlets including BBC Radio 5, the publisher Steve Berry and PayPal have reached a compromise which should see the charity book published, on time, later this year.

In a joint statement PayPal apologised to Berry for the way they handled payments for the book. They say they are working with Berry to make sure funds are released as they are needed to pay the publisher and other suppliers.

PayPal explained that they placed restrictions on Berry’s account because the payments were received months before the book was available. This was in line with their policy of protecting buyers in case they don’t receive goods that they have pre-ordered. However they admit they should have explained things better and worked more quickly to find a sensible compromise to ensure the success of the good cause.

For his part Steve Berry said he was delighted that PayPal have responded to his concerns about the handling of the account being used to fund the production of the Behind The Sofa book. He said 'We have now come to an amicable resolution and I look forward to publishing the book and fulfilling all the orders placed by generous Doctor Who fans.'

The charity book Behind The Sofa which is being created to raise money for Alzheimer’s Research UK, has run into problems with PayPal, who are refusing to release funds to the book's editor Steve Berry, until he can prove he has already spent money on the book.

The money raised from pre-orders was intended to pay for the production costs, something that Berry might now have to meet from his own pocket, as the money will be withheld until after the book is published. PayPal froze the account early on Monday after their systems alerted them that a large number of payments had been sent to the account within a short period.

Following some negative publicity towards the internet giant, including tweets from Charlie Brooker, Rufus Hound and Al Murray, PayPal have now told Berry that they will release half the money once he can provide verified paid invoices from suppliers involved in the project, leaving Berry in the position of having to finance the project before he can recoup some of the costs.

No monies paid have been lost and Berry is still determined the book will be published. He is, however, also looking into alternative funding solutions.

More details on the Behind The Sofa website.

A charity convention celebrating the fan film Power of the Daleks is to be held later this year.

The film, made by the Doctor Who enthusiasts behind the highly successful Portsmouth stage productions of The Web of Fear, Fury From The Deep, The Evil of the Daleks, and The Dalek Masterplan (the latter renamed from the original), adapts and reimagines Patrick Troughton's inaugural story.

Starring Nick Scovell as the Doctor and also featuring Nicholas Briggs, Lisa Bowerman and Barnaby Edwards in the cast, it is to be shown online in three mini-episodes in April, July, and September, but will receive a full showing on the big screen at the Power: Reimagined convention. Entry tickets pay for admission to the convention but the screening of the film is free and non-profit-making.

Teasers and a trailer for the film plus mini-documentaries about its making can be seen on the group's official YouTube channel. The trailer, which was released last Christmas, can also be seen below.



The convention takes place on Saturday 1st September at Ferneham Hall in Fareham and guests announced so far (work permitting) are Michael Troughton, who has recently published a biography about his father, and the Doctor Who Restoration Team, with more to come.

Also taking place during the day will be talks by cast and crew from the original series and remake, as well as photo and autograph sessions. Props from the remake will be on display too.

Money raised by the convention will go to Cancer Research UK and Children In Need.