BBC Audio: Current Competitions

Saturday, 30 April 2016 - Reported by Chuck Foster

We have the following audiobooks available for readers to win, courtesy of BBC Audio; in order to be in with a chance to win simply email us with the answer to the question along with your name, country and where you heard about the competition. All competitions are open worldwide, with a closing date of 8th May 2016. Only one entry per household can be accepted.

The Memory of Winter (Credit: BBC Audio)

[order from Amazon UK]

The Memory of Winter, written by George Mann and read by Jemma Redgrave
Summoned by the Winter family's Calling Card, the TARDIS arrives in 15th Century France. In the shadows of a forest the Doctor and Clara encounter a band of soldiers who are protecting a mysterious young woman. Also travelling with the party is self-confessed amateur historian Julius Winter. Young Joan of Arc is troubled by voices telling her things she should not know about - things concerning the Doctor's own people, the Time Lords. When he realises that an element of the Time War is involved, the Doctor is compelled to discover where Joan is getting her information from. But in doing so, he and Clara are drawn into terrible danger...

Question: George Mann wrote another recent novel involving the Time War, but for which Doctor?
Send your answer to comp-winter@doctorwhonews.net with the subject line "A Winter's Tale".

[order from Amazon UK]

Cybermen: The Invasion, written by Ian Marter and read by David Troughton
Materialising in Outer Space, the TARDIS is attached by a missile fired from the dark side of the moon. Back on Earth, the newly-formed United Nations Intelligence Taskforce (UNIT), led by Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart, is disturbed by a series of UFO sightings over Southern England. Meanwhile, a large consignment of mysterious crates is delivered to the headquarters of International Electromatics, the largest computer and electronics firm in the world. These three seemingly unconnected events are in fact the preparations for a massive Cyberman invasion of Earth, with one aim: the total annihilation of the human race.

Question: what is author Ian Marter better known for within the Doctor Who universe?
Send your answer to comp-invasion@doctorwhonews.net with the subject line "Kilroy was 'ere".

[order from Amazon UK]

Death to the Daleks, written by Terrance Dicks and read by Jon Culshaw
A mysterious power loss strands the Tardis on Exxilon, a sinister fog-shrouded alien planet. The Doctor meets the survivors of a beleaguered expedition from Earth, while Sarah finds a mysterious super-city and becomes a captive of the savage Exxilons. Worst of all, the Doctor's greatest enemies, the Daleks, arrive on a secret mission of their own. The Doctor and Sarah must risk their lives time and again in a desperate attempt to foil the Daleks and save millions of humans from a horrific plague.

Question: where was the Doctor attempting to take Sarah on holiday to before being forced down on Exxilon?
Send your answer to comp-daleks@doctorwhonews.net with the subject line "Oh I do like to be beside the seaside".

[order from Amazon UK]

Amorality Tale, written by David Bishop and read by Dan Starkey
When gangster Tommy Ramsey is released from prison, he is determined to retake control of his 1950s East End territory. But new arrivals threaten his grip on illegal activity in the area. An evangelical minister is persuading people to seek redemption from their sins. A new gang is claiming the streets. And a watchmaker called Smith is leading a revolt against the Ramsey Mob's protection racket. When Tommy strikes back at his enemies, a far more terrifying threat is revealed. Within hours the city's air turns into nerve gas and thousands succumb to the choking fumes. London is dying...

Question: Name the character that Dan Starkey portrayed in a televised story alongside Sarah Jane Smith
Send your answer to comp-amorality@doctorwhonews.net with the subject line "Smoggy moments".

[order from Amazon UK]

Shadow in the Glass, written by Stephen Cole & Justin Richards and read by India Fisher
When an RAF squadron shoots down an unidentified aircraft over Turelhampton, the village is immediately evacuated. But why is the village still guarded by troops in 2001? When a television documentary crew break through the cordon looking for a story, they find they've recorded more than they'd bargained for. Caught up in both a deadly conspiracy and a historical mystery, retired Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart calls upon his old friend the Doctor. Half-glimpsed demons watch from the shadows as the Doctor and the Brigadier travel back in time to discover the last, and deadliest, secret of the Second World War.

Question: Name another story which saw the Doctor travel into Germany's past
Send your answer to comp-shadow@doctorwhonews.net with the subject line "Heil!".

FILTER: - Audio - BBC Audio - Competitions

Competition Roundup

Tuesday, 23 February 2016 - Reported by Chuck Foster

A roundup of further competitions from Doctor Who News that readers may enter:

The Fourth Doctor Adventures: The Labyrinth of Buda Castle

The fourth Doctor continues his adventures alongside Romana and K-9:

The Doctor and Romana land in Budapest, intent on enjoying another holiday, but shortly after landing they find themselves too late to save the life of a man who has seemingly been attacked by a vampire. As they learn that this is the latest in a series of violent attacks, it becomes clear that they have stumbled onto something that needs investigating. Aided by a vampire hunter who is searching for Dracula, they look into the nearby Buda caves, currently being used for storage by the military - and find that the soldiers have problems of their own. Stalked through the tunnels by a monster, and up against an ancient evil, the race is on to escape alive - and foil the dastardly schemes of the maniacal Zoltan Frid.

The Labyrinth Of Buda Castle (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:

In which televised story did the Doctor first encounter "Dracula"?

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-bf4d@doctorwhonews.net with the subject "Everything at stake". The competition is open worldwide, closing date 6th March 2016. 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.

BBC Books: 365 Days of Memorable Moments and Impossible Things

BBC Books are to publish a book examining notable events in Doctor Who during the course of a year next month:

For over half a century, Doctor Who has entertained and enthralled fans with the time-travelling adventures of the Doctor and his companions. From that first glimpse of a police telephone box in a Totter's Lane junkyard, to meeting terrifying villains such as the Daleks or the Weeping Angels, to the fall of the Doctor's home planet Gallifrey, the beloved series has provided a near-inexhaustible list of indelible memories. This book is a unique and captivating day-by-day chronicle of those memories. In this fascinating compilation of fictional and historical events from the world's longest running science-fiction show. Doctor Who expert Justin Richards revisits iconic characters, thrilling plot twists and memorable battles, as well as sharing bonus behind-the-scenes secrets from both the classic and new series.

365 Days of Memorable Moments and Impossible Things (Credit: BBC Books)

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

The Doctor has on occasion chronicled his own adventures, making reference to them a number of times during his earlier incarnations, but what did he use to do so?

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-365days@doctorwhonews.net with the subject "One day I shall read back". The competition is open to UK readers only, closing date 6th March 2016. Only one entry per household will be accepted.

BBC Audio: The Space Museum

The next classic novelisation adaptation for 2016 sees the first Doctor catch a glimpse of his own possible future in The Space Museum:

The TARDIS materialises on what, at first sight, appears to be a dry and lifeless planet serving only as a graveyard for spaceships. The Doctor, Ian, Barbara and Vicki discover a magnificent museum housing relics from every corner of the galaxy. These have been assembled by the Moroks, a race of cruel conquerors who have invaded the planet Xeros and enslaved its inhabitants. Upon further exploration the TARDIS crew seem to stumble upon the impossible: for suddenly, facing them in an exhibit case, they find...themselves!

Doctor Who: The Space Museum (Credit: BBC Audio)

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

Having been grabbed by Xeron rebels, the Doctor promptly escapes them by hiding in an an unusual way - what does he do?

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-target@doctorwhonews.net with the subject "The Xerons are revolting". The competition is open worldwide, closing date 6th March 2016. Only one entry per household will be accepted.

FILTER: - BBC Audio - BBC Books - Big Finish - Competitions

Competition Roundup

Wednesday, 17 February 2016 - Reported by Chuck Foster

A roundup of competitions from Doctor Who News that readers may enter:

The Fourth Doctor Adventures: Wave of Destruction

The fourth Doctor has returned for a new series of adventures alongside Romana and K-9:

A modulated frequency wave cancellation signal isn’t something that the Doctor and Romana expect to detect in 1960s London. But then they don’t expect to find Professor Lanchester, the man who invented it, lying unconscious. Or MI5 investigating. With the help of MI5 Agent Miller, Lanchester’s daughter Jill, and his nephew a pirate radio DJ called Mark, the Doctor, Romana and K-9 investigate. They soon discover that there is more at risk than they imagined, and an alien invasion is about to begin. Can the Doctor identify and defeat the aliens in time? Will Romana manage to find a recombinant transducer before it’s too late? And how will K-9 cope with his new job?

Wave Of Destruction (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:

Wave of Destruction is set in the 1960s, but in the decade before another menace carried through the airwaves was a threat to the Doctor - what was that entity called?

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-bf4d@doctorwhonews.net with the subject "Tuning In". The competition is open worldwide, closing date 21st February 2016. 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.

BBC Books: City of Death (paperback)

BBC Books have now published last year's popular novel of fourth Doctor adventure City of Death in paperback:

The Doctor takes Romana for a holiday in Paris - a city which, like a fine wine, had a bouquet all of its own. Especially if you visit during one of the vintage years. But the TARDIS takes them to 1979, a table-wine year, a year whose vintage is soured by cracks - not in their wine glasses but in the very fabric of time itself. Soon the Time Lords are embroiled in an audacious alien scheme which encompasses home-made time machines, the theft of the Mona Lisa, the resurrection of the much-feared Jagaroth race, and the beginning (and quite possibly the end) of all life on Earth. Aided by British private detective Duggan, whose speciality is thumping people, the Doctor and Romana must thwart the machinations of the suave, mysterious Count Scarlioni - all twelve of him - if the human race has any chance of survival. But then, the Doctor's holidays tend to turn out a bit like this.

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

Before the theft of the Mona Lisa, which item in his collection did Count Scarlioni tell his butler Hermann to sell in order to continue to fund Kerensky's research?

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-citybook@doctorwhonews.net with the subject "Nobody could be as stupid as he seems". The competition is open to UK readers only, closing date 21st February 2016. Only one entry per household will be accepted.

BBC Audio: State of Decay

The first classic novelisation adaptation for 2016 from BBC Audio is the fourth Doctor adventure, State of Decay:

The Doctor, Romana and K9 - and a young stowaway called Adric - are trapped in the alternative universe of E-Space. Seeking help, they land on an unknown planet, and find a nightmare world where oppressed peasants toil for the Lords who live in the Tower. All learning is forbidden: it is a society in a state of decay. What is the terrifying secret of the Three Who Rule? What monstrous creature stirs beneath the Tower, waking from its thousand year sleep? The Doctor discovers that the oldest and deadliest enemy of the Time Lords is about to spring into horrifying action.

Doctor Who and the State of Decay (Credit: BBC Audio)

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

This isn't the first time that State of Decay has been released as an audiobook - who narrated its original release back in the 1980s?

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-wasting@doctorwhonews.net with the subject "The Wasting is ... the Wasting". The competition is open worldwide, closing date 21st February 2016. Only one entry per household will be accepted.

BBC Audio: The Witch Hunters

BBC Audio's novel adaptations continue with The Witch Hunters, originally released as part of the BBC Books Past Adventures range in 1998:

With the Doctor wanting to repair the TARDIS in peace and quiet, Barbara, Ian and Susan decide to get some experience of living in the nearby village of Salem. But the Doctor knows about the horrors destined to engulf the village, and he determines that they should leave. His friends are not impressed. His granddaughter Susan has her own ideas, and is desperate to return to Salem, whatever the cost. But her actions will lead them all into terrible danger, and cause a tragedy that is already unfolding to escalate out of control.

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

Witches generally have a bad reputation, but the Doctor has also encountered 'white' witches in the past who were more than helpful - name one met by the third Doctor.

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-witch@doctorwhonews.net with the subject "Salem's plot". The competition is open worldwide, closing date 21st February 2016. Only one entry per household will be accepted.

FILTER: - Competitions

Predict the Ratings for The Husbands of River Song

Wednesday, 23 December 2015 - Reported by Chuck Foster

It's time for our traditional "Predict the Ratings" competition, and this year you will be in with a chance to win The Husbands of River Song on Blu-ray or DVD ... alongside the latest adventures of the twelfth Doctor when The Complete Ninth Series is released next year!

The aim is to guess the final consolidated viewing figure of The Husbands of River Song, as reported by BARB, to the nearest 10,000 viewers (i.e. two decimal places). This figure includes all those watching the episode within a week of broadcast via television, but does not include independent streaming devices.

Last year ratings on television were down across the board, with none of the Christmas Day shows managing to break the 10 million mark - Last Christmas ended up in sixth place with 8.28m viewers. In previous years, you can view the final ratings for The Christmas Invasion, The Runaway Bride, Voyage of the Damned, The Next Doctor, The End of Time part one, A Christmas Carol, The Doctor, The Widow and The Wardrobe, The Snowmen and The Time of the Doctor via This Week in Doctor Who.

The show's best position occured in 2009 when The End Of Time (part one) arguably achieved the top spot with 12.05m viewers (11.57m on BBC One and 0.47m on BBC HD). However, it was the 2007 special, Voyage of the Damned that achieved the best rating in the decade of specials, reaching 13.31m viewers (but pipped at the post by Eastenders at 14.38m!).

To enter the competition, please send the following details to comp-ratings@doctorwhonews.net:

Your name and preferred email address
Your country of entry (full details will be requested only if you are the winner)
Your guess at the final rating to the nearest 10,000 (eg.9.99m)
Tie breaker: also send your guess as to what the final rating for the BBC3 repeat on Boxing Day might be - this figure will only be used in the event of a tie!

Terms and Conditions:

The competition closes at 08:30 GMT, 26th December 2015.
Only one entry will be accepted per person.
The competition is open worldwide.
BARB final figures are expected in early 2016; we will contact the winner once they have been published.
The winner will be able to confirm the region and format of the boxed set they'd like nearer release date.

Odds on Who

At the time of writing, the (average) betting odds for the main channels are as follows:

Time       BBC One                                Odds    ITV                                Odds 
 3:00pm    The Queen                                                                         34/1
 3:10pm    Brave                                  69/1    Cameraman to the Queen               -
 4:10pm                                                   Countrywise Winter Wonderland     100/1
 4:35pm    BBC News and Weather                     -
 4:45pm    Stick Man                             100/1
 5:00pm                                                   For The Love Of Dogs              130/1
 5:15pm    Doctor Who                             28/1
 6:00pm                                                   ITV Evening News                     -
 6:15pm    Strictly Come Dancing                   9/1    You've Been Framed With Bells On  100/1
 6:45pm                                                   Emmerdale                         109/1
 7:30pm    Call The Midwife                       14/1 
 7:45pm                                                   Coronation Street                  77/2
 8:45pm    Eastenders                              9/2    Downton Abbey                       9/2
 9:45pm    Mrs Browns Boys                         7/10
10:45pm    Michael McIntyre's Big Christmas Show  62/1    Our Cilla                          91/1

Having been in the top spot three years running, Mrs Brown's Boys remains the favourite for this year. Eastenders, which topped the charts in 2010 and 2011, and the final episode of Downton Abbey are currently joint second, followed by Strictly Come Dancing and Doctor Who.

FILTER: - Betting/Odds - Competitions - Series Specials - UK

The Legends of Ashildr

Wednesday, 9 December 2015 - Reported by Chuck Foster

BBC Books have announced a new hardback book to tie in with the recent series of Doctor Who, focussing on the character of Ashildr as played by Maisie Williams:

The Legends of Ashildr (Credit: BBC Books)

DOCTOR WHO: THE LEGENDS OF ASHILDR
NEVER-BEFORE-TOLD STORIES OF THE WOMAN WHO LIVED
Written by James Goss, Jenny T Colgan, David Llewellyn and Justin Richards
Published by BBC Books on 10th December (hardback) [pre-order]

Ten thousand hours is all it takes to master any skill. Twenty thousand, and you’re the best in the world.
Over a hundred thousand, and you’re the best there’s ever been.

Ashildr, a young Viking girl, died helping the Doctor and Clara to save her village. Brought back to life by the Doctor using alien technology, she is now immortal – The Woman Who Lived. Since then, Ashildr has kept journals, detailing her extraordinary life.

The Legends of Ashildr is a glimpse of some of those stories: the terrors she has faced, the battles she has won, and the treasures she has found. These are tales of a woman who lived longer than she should ever have lived – and lost more than she can even remember.

This title features Ashildr, as played by Maisie Williams. The Legends of Ashildr is set between her first two encounters with the Doctor, as shown in the 2015 episodes The Girl Who Died and The Woman Who Lived.

Competition

To be in with a chance to win a copy of The Legends of Ashildr courtesy of BBC Books, simply answer the following question:

By the time of the Doctor's encounter with Ashildr in 17th Century England, her father had become a distant memory ... what was his name?

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-legends@doctorwhonews.net with the subject "Don't mind Me ...". The competition is to residents of the United Kingdom only, closing date: 31st December 2015. Only one entry per household will be accepted.

FILTER: - BBC - Books - Competitions - Merchandise

Competition Roundup

Thursday, 3 December 2015 - Reported by Chuck Foster

The following Doctor Who News competitions are currently available to enter, check each one for their closing date.

DWAS Membership

Christmas Card for 2015 (Credit: Doctor Who Appreciation Society)

The Doctor Who Appreciation Society are currently selling Doctor Who themed Christmas cards, and from now until the 10th December any readers of Doctor Who News who order cards from their website will be in with a chance to win a twelve month membership/renewal to the society.

You can order cards from DWAS here.

Festive Jumper

This festive season sees a number of official Doctor Who jumpers to keep warm: Numskull present a cyber-theme:

The Cybermen have deemed the deletion of Christmas necessary for the subjugation of the planet Earth. Now you can join the festive fight for the deletion with the Cybermen, or against with the Doctor with this Official BBC Doctor Who Cyberman knitted Christmas Jumper.

Cyberman Jumper from Numskull (Credit: Numskull)

To be in with a chance of winning a jumper courtest of Numskull, simply answer the following question:

In which year did the BBC run a festive campaign that featured a Cyberman playing Twister alongside the actors then portraying the Doctor assistant?

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-jumper@doctorwhonews.net with the subject "A cosy Cyberman?" - don't forget to include the size you'd like to receive (dimensions can be found via the Numskull website). The competition is open worldwide, closing date 13th December 2015. Only one entry per household will be accepted.

Torchwood: Forgotten Lives

The third in Big Finish's new range of Torchwood adventures stars Eve Myles and Kai Owen:

It has been four years since the Miracle, and Gwen and Rhys's lives have gone back to normal, very normal. They're raising their daughter (they've got pictures they'd be only too happy to show you), they're living in a nice house, and they're almost on top of the laundry. Captain Jack Harkness has been missing from the world and their lives for a long time. But late one night the phone rings, and they're summoned to an isolated part of North Wales. The Bryn Offa Nursing Home contains a dark secret, an alien threat, and someone who really shouldn't be there. Gwen and Rhys are about to discover that Torchwood stays with you for the rest of your life.

Torchwood - Forgotten Lives (Credit: Big Finish)

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

Eve Myles appeared in Doctor Who before her lead role in Torchwood: which story did she appear in and what was her character name?

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-forgottenlives@doctorwhonews.net with the subject "Did anybody order pizza?". The competition is open worldwide, closing date 6th December. 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.

BBC Audio: K9 & Company

The final classic novelisation adaptation for 2015 from BBC Audio is the spin-off adventure, K9 and Company:

In the sleepy village of Hazelbury Abbas, the Winter Solstice is fast drawing near. It is a time of deep mystery an ancient evil. Sarah Jane Smith, journalist and former companion to the Doctor, comes to the village to write her new book. For company she has Brendan, the young ward of Sarah's missing Aunt Lavinia. The Brendan too disappears, possible kidnapped by practitioners of Black Magic. Is he to be sacrificed to the goddess Hecate on the Solstice? Sarah is not alone in her search for Brendan, for the Doctor has sent her a very special companion: a robotic dog by the name of K9 ...

K9 & Company (audiobook) (Credit: BBC Audio)

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

Though the series would have been known as K9 & Company, what was the individual title used for the single Christmas episode that was broadcast?

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-affirmative@doctorwhonews.net with the subject "Affirmative, Mistress". The competition is open worldwide, closing date 13th December 2015. Only one entry per household will be accepted.

BBC Audio: The Winter Collection

To be in with a chance to win a set of the three audiobooks of "The Winter Collection" so far (The Gods of Winter, The House of Winter, The Sins of Winter), courtesy of BBC Audio, simply answer the following question:

The reader of the latest audiobook, Robin Soans, is one of the growing list of actors who have played roles in both the 20th and 21st Century versions of Doctor Who - name the stories/roles he has played (so far!)

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-winter@doctorwhonews.net with the subject "A Winter's Tale". The competition is open worldwide, closing date 13th December 2015. Only one entry per household will be accepted.

Pop Vinyl figures

Funko: Pop Vinyl Tenth Doctor (Credit: fun.com)

To be in with a chance to win a Funko Pop Vinyl figure courtesy of fun.com, simply answer the following question:

Name a story in which the Doctor is shrunken down to a much smaller size.

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-vinyl@doctorwhonews.net with the subject "Don't get too big-headed" - don't forget to specify which figure you'd like to receive from the list below. The competition is open to readers in the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand only, closing date 13th December 2015. Only one entry per household will be accepted.

Figures available Tenth, Eleventh, Twelfth Doctors, Adipose, Cyberman or Dalek.

Lethbridge-Stewart Books

Lethbridge-Stewart: Mutually Assured Domination (Credit: Candy Jar Books)

In celebration of the success of the Lethbridge-Stewart series of books, we are delighted to be able to offer the set of four books published this year (The Forgotten Son, The Schizoid Earth, Beast of Fang Rock, and Mutually Assured Domination) plus associated short stories, courtesy of Candy Jar Books. To be in with a chance to win, simply answer the following question:

In relation to this series of books, what is the significance of the closing date of this competition?

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-ls15@doctorwhonews.net with the subject "what happened next?". The competition is open worldwide, closing date: 16th December 2015. Only one entry per household will be accepted.

Predict the Ratings of Hell Bent

Predict how many viewers will watch this year's series finale! Full details here.

FILTER: - Competitions

Predict the Ratings for Hell Bent

Wednesday, 2 December 2015 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Doctor Who: The Ten Christmas Specials (Credit: BBC Worldwide)

The series finale is almost upon us, and Doctor Who News is offering one lucky reader the chance to win a copy of The 10 Christmas Specials, a limited edition DVD boxed set featuring the ten previous Christmas Day specials of the modern series (sadly The Feast of Steven is not included!).

All you need to do is to guess the final consolidated viewing figure for Hell Bent, as reported by BARB to the nearest 10,000 viewers (i.e. two decimal places). This figure includes all those watching the episode within a week of broadcast.

Hell Bent is being broadcast in the UK on BBC One on Saturday at 8:00pm. As with most episodes this year, it will follow Strictly Come Dancing, and will be followed by Casualty. In opposition, ITV have The X Factor, whilst BBC Two is showing Snooker, Channel 4 is showing The World's Weirdest Weather, and Channel 5 has Can't Pay, We'll Take It Away.

To help place in perspective, the average consolidated rating this series so far has been 5.84 million viewers - all the the known consolidated figures can be found in the Related Articles below. At the time of writing the figure for last week's Heaven Sent has yet to be confirmed, but its overnight was reported as 4.51m, up 90,000 from the previous episode's overnight.

Entering The Competition

The Doctor counts how many are watching ... (Photo credit: BBC/Simon Ridgway)

The prize is number 20 in the limited edition run of The 10 Christmas Specials.

To enter the competition, please send the following details to comp-ratings@doctorwhonews.net:

Your name and email address
Your country (full address will only be requested if you are a winner)
Your guess for the final consolidated viewing figure

The BARB figure is expected to be announced on Monday 14th December; the winner will be informed once the figure has been confirmed, and the prize dispatched to arrive before Christmas Day* so you can binge-watch all previous specials in anticipation of The Husbands of River Song!

[* in the UK, postage to other countries cannot be guaranteed to arrive beforehand]

The competition closes at 7.59pm (GMT), 5th December 2015
Only one entry will be accepted per person.
The competition is open worldwide but PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS A REGION TWO DVD only

FILTER: - Competitions - Ratings

Lethbridge-Stewart: Sadie Miller headlines range for 2016

Monday, 30 November 2015 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Candy Jar Books have confirmed that the range of books featuring the eponymous character of Lethbridge-Stewart will continue into the new year, with the first book of 2016, Moon Blink to be penned by Sadie Miller (a preview of which can be read at the end of the latest book in the series, Mutually Assured Domination).

Series editor Andy Frankham-Allen said:

I almost worked with Sadie a good ten years ago on the second series of Sarah Jane Smith (produced by Big Finish), but alas that did not come to be. We’ve kept in touch since, and as soon as I learned she was switching careers I immediately asked if she wanted to write for the Lethbridge-Stewart range, feeling it may be the right time for her to reconnect with Doctor Who fandom. And bless her, she agreed without a second thought!

Candy Jar’s Publishing Co-ordinator Hayley Cox said:

It’s a great honour to be here at the start of Sadie’s writing career, working with her on her debut novel. She came to us with an amazing idea and it was a case of how could we not do it.

Author Gary Russell, former script editor of The Sarah Jane Adventures and long-time family friend of the Millers, said:

When I first heard that Sadie was writing a novel, my initial reaction was ‘ahh, a chip off the old block’– her delightful mum was one of the most creative, sharp and incisive individuals I ever knew. But then I realised I was doing Sadie a disservice, because from the first day I met her, Sadie Miller has always been her own person, utterly talented and rapaciously gifted which, other than encouragement and support, owes nothing to either of her parents and everything to Sadie's own determination to be brilliant. And with this novel, she's proven that she is.

Sadie Miller is known to Doctor Who fans as the daughter of fondly remembered Sarah Jane Smith actress Elisabeth Sladen and actor Brian Miller. The brief biography of her career and previous connections with Doctor Who below has been provided courtesy of Candy Jar Books:

Sadie enjoyed a career as a child actress through many voice-over parts, making her screen debut when she was eight, playing Penny in the BBC film, Royal Celebration. She is best-known to Doctor Who fans for her role in both series of Sarah Jane Smith audio dramas produced by Big Finish in 2002 and 2006. She won much critical acclaim for the role of the wheelchair-bound Planet 3 researcher, Natalie Redfern, particularly in the story Test of Nerve.

She completed courses with the National Youth Theatre, the Royal Court Theatre's Young Writer's Programme, and RADA's Shakespeare Course. She earned a BA in English and Related Literature, and graduated with honours.

Sadie turned from acting in 2011. “After University, I went to drama school and was actually in my final term when mum died. This obviously impacted how I looked at my future and I decided to switch to writing instead so that I could have a little more control and flexibility to be around for my dad.” She is currently working on an original Young Adult novel, having already contributed to anthologies. In 2014 she was a finalist for the Glass Woman prize with Mirandolina.
Sadie is no stranger to Doctor Who, of course. Her father is actor Brian Miller, who has appeared in both Doctor Who and The Sarah Jane Adventures, and her mother is Doctor Who legend Elisabeth Sladen, the actress who won the hearts of millions of Doctor Who fans in the 1970s as Sarah Jane Smith, and once again in 2005 when she brought Sarah back to the modern era of Doctor Who. Elisabeth Sladen sadly passed away in 2011, which led to Sadie distancing herself for some time from Doctor Who fandom.

“I needed time to mourn, to be there for my dad. The constant reminders of my mum, obviously very hard to avoid, were just too painful. But now I feel that the time is right to reconnect with Doctor Who, and the fans,” said Sadie. “My dad did so last year with an appearance in Peter Capaldi’s first episode, and so now it’s my turn. It’s exciting to be writing my first novel, and that it features the Brig adds another layer of importance. He, in the form of Nicholas Courtney, was there when mum debuted as Sarah in 1973, and she was there for his very last on screen appearance as the character in 2008. So in many ways this is important.”

The titles announced for 2016 so far are as follows, with another three due to be announced for release next Autumn:

Moon Blink, by Sadie Miller
A new drug is on the streets, and it appears to have come from the moon. Only, Apollo 11 has only just landed on the moon! Lethbridge-Stewart and Anne Travers are all set to investigate, when Anne receives a very unexpected visitor.
The Showstoppers, by Jonathan Cooper
A new TV show is about to hit the airwaves, one connected to a notorious Nazi war criminal. Lethbridge-Stewart and Anne Travers investigate. (Jonathan Cooper is the author of two novels in the Space: 1889 steampunk series, and Doctor Who correspondent for The Independent.)
The Grandfather Infestation, by John Peel
Something strange is happening in the North Sea, bringing Pirate Radio to its knees. The Fifth Operational Corps is called in to investigate. (John Peel is the author of countless novels, including several for Star Trek and Doctor Who. But he’s not a DJ.)

Details on how to purchase both the new and current books, plus subscription offers can be found via the Candy Jar Books website.

(with thanks to Shaun Russell and Andy Frankham-Allen)

Competition

In relation to this series of books, what is the significance of the closing date of this competition?

FILTER: - Books - Candy Jar Books - Competitions - Lethbridge-Stewart

Competitions Roundup

Tuesday, 3 November 2015 - Reported by Chuck Foster

The following Doctor Who News competitions are currently available to enter, all of which have a closing date of the 8th November 2015.

Torchwood: Fall to Earth

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

Ianto actor Gareth David Lloyd appeared in another television series with a very similar character name - what was that name and the series?

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-fall@doctorwhonews.net with the subject "A decent cup of coffee". The competition is open worldwide. 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.

Doctor Who: The Underwater Menace

To be in with a chance to win a DVD of The Underwater Menace courtesy of BBC Worldwide, simply answer the following question:

Who was the director originally slated to make The Underwater Menace?

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-fishy@doctorwhonews.net with the subject "You're not turning me into a fish!". The competition is open to UK residents only. Only one entry per household will be accepted.

The Glamour Chronicles

To be in with a chance to win a set of the three stories that make up the audio series The Glamour Chronicles courtesy of BBC Audio, simply answer the following question:

Big Bang Generation features Keri, an old friend of Bernice's. Name the novel in which the characters first met.

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-glamour@doctorwhonews.net with the subject "Heart's desire". The competition is open worldwide. Only one entry per household will be accepted.

Time Lord Fairy Tales

To be in with a chance to win a copy of the book Time Lord Fairy Tales courtesy of Penguin, simply answer the following question:

Name a televised Doctor Who story that featured fairy-tale characters.

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-tales@doctorwhonews.net with the subject "Once upon a time...". The competition is open to UK residents only. Only one entry per household will be accepted.

The Dangerous Book of Monsters

To be in with a chance to win a copy of the book The Dangerous Book of Monsters courtesy of Penguin, simply answer the following question:

On television, the Doctor encountered a device that housed a collection of 'monsters' for entertainment - name the device and the story in which it featured.

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-monsters@doctorwhonews.net with the subject "You're beautiful!". The competition is open to UK residents only. Only one entry per household will be accepted.

K9 Essentials

To be in with a chance to win a copy of the book The Essential Book of K9, courtesy of the authors, simply answer the following question:

In the television series, who was the original creator of K9?

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-k9essential@doctorwhonews.net with the subject "Affirmative!". The competition is open world-wide. Only one entry per household will be accepted.

FILTER: - Competitions

The Underwater Menace surfaces on iTunes

Tuesday, 27 October 2015 - Reported by Chuck Foster

The Underwater Menace, the (currently) last "classic" Doctor Who story which was officially released on DVD yesterday in the United Kingdom, has also been made available digitally via iTunes.

In addition to the story itself (which comprises of the two existing episodes two and three and reconstruction of the first and last), the package also includes the behind-the-scenes documentary A Fishy Tale, and also both parts of Television Centre of the Universe (the first part of which originally featured on The Vistitation: Special Edition). The package is rounded off with the Photo Gallery.

The DVD itself also features commentaries and interviews presented on an alternative audio-track, and also includes the existing scenes from the two missing episodes that were recovered from Australian censor clips in 1998. The episodes themselves are presented after being restored via the VidFire process (which is not present in the digital versions).

You can read our review of the DVD here, and also purchase it via our Amazon Shop.

(with thanks to Julian Bashford)

Competition

To be in with a chance to win a copy of the DVD of The Underwater Menace, courtesy of BBC Worldwide, simply answer the following question:

Who was the director originally slated to make The Underwater Menace?

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-fishy@doctorwhonews.net with the subject "You're not turning me into a fish!". The competition is open to UK residents only, closing date: 8th November 2015. Only one entry per household will be accepted.

FILTER: - Classic Series - Competitions - Blu-ray/DVD - Online - Second Doctor

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K9 Essentials

The Underwater Menace surfaces on iTunes

Competition

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