Whotopia - Issue 31

Friday, 28 July 2017 - Reported by Marcus

The latest issue of the fan magazine Whotopia has been released and looks at the legacy of writer and Script Editor Robert Holmes

The Magazine is available in both a free-to-download PDF and can be purchased in hardcopy.

POINT / COUNTERPOINT: THE CASE FOR ROBERT HOLMES Join Michael S. Collins & Jon Arnold as they ponder the works of the late great Robert Holmes
ROBERT HOLMES: THE EARLY YEARS Bob Furnell picks up his biographer's lens and takes a look at Robert Holmes early career
COLUMN: WHOLIFE HOLMESLIFE Grant Bull takes a unique look at Holmes' life and works
HOLMES WHO REVIEWED Our panel review every story written by Robert Holmes
NOVELIZING THE SCRIPT: THE TWO DOCTORS Matthew Kresal focuses on Holmes novelization of his sixth Doctor script
COLUMN: TARGET TRAWL Nick Mellish continues his journey reading every single Target novel
SICK SOCIETY: HOW THE DYSTOPIAN NARRATIVE INFLUENCED DOCTOR WHO Steve Traves opens the lid on one of the series' most enduring themes
COLUMN: THE DOCTOR WHO SCHOLAR: FILE UNDER POLITICS This issue Jeremy discusses how the Doctor's travels have touched upon the cultural events of their time
BERNICE SUMMERFIELD UNBOUND Matthew Kresal examines the Big Finish audio boxset
WHO YOU BUILD Steve Traves explores more full-scale Doctor Who model making
THE BLACK ARCHIVES REVIEWED This issue Andrew Screen takes a look at Dark Water/Death In Heaven and Ghost Light
THE TENTH DOCTOR ADVENTURES Jessica Chaleff takles this new series of audio adventures from Big Finish
MASTER WHO PART 4: ERIC ROBERTS Dan Tessier details Eric Roberts version of ‘The Master’
COLUMN: THE FANZINE CORNER Bob Furnell returns with a special one-off edition of this popular column
THE AUDIO ARCHIVES: RETURN OF THE KROTONS Andrew Screen considers this audio sequel to Holmes' first ever 'Who' script
COLUMN: THE CURATE’S EGG Richard Michaels defends three of Holmes' bug-eyed monster creations

FILTER: - Fan Productions

Who Talk: The Green Death

Wednesday, 31 May 2017 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Fantom Audio have released the latest in their line of alternative Doctor Who commentaries, Who Talk, which this month focuses on the third Doctor tale The Green Death.

Producer Paul W.T. Ballard said:

This was an important story for us to revisit as we were able to bring a variety of new voices and combinations of guests to a much loved classic.

This is the first time Katy Manning and Stewart Bevan have been brought together to record a commentary for The Green Death, and the experience of hearing the life long friends discuss the series was magical.

Who Talk: The Green Death (Richard Franklin, Mitzi MciKenzie, John Levene and Toby Hadoke) (Credit: Fantom Audio)

Katy and Stewart are joined for the commentary by UNIT regulars Richard Franklin and John Levene, plus Mitzi McKenzie (who played Nancy in the story) and director Michael E. Briant. The commentary is hosted by the stalwart Toby Hadoke.

In addition to the regular release, a special signed edition is also available, which as well as the commentary also includes a signature from a member of the cast, plus a free pack of four postcards featuring artwork from the Who Talk series.

Full details and how to order can be found at the Who Talk website.

Please note: these commentaries contain no BBC copyrighted elements and do not feature audio from the episodes themselves - these are designed to be played alongside the official DVD releases.

FILTER: - Audio - Fantom - Third Doctor

Daddy's Girl: 50th Anniversary edition of Deborah Watling's autobiography

Tuesday, 30 May 2017 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Fantom Publishing have announced the re-release of actress Deborah Watling's autobiography, Daddy's Girl, to mark the fiftieth anniversary of her appearance in Doctor Who as Victoria.

Daddy's Girl (50th Anniversary edition) (Credit: Fantom Publishing)

Daddy's Girl (50th Anniversary edition)
Written by Deborah Watling, with Paul W.T. Ballard
Published by Fantom Publishing

Daughter of renowned star of stage and screen Jack Watling, Deborah has entertained millions in a career which spans over fifty years.

From her early successes in series such as The Invisible Man, The Power Game and Out of the Unknown, through to her iconic role as the scream queen Victoria Waterfield in Doctor Who, film roles opposite Cliff Richard and David Essex, and as the notorious ‘Naughty’ Norma in Danger UXB, Deborah has endeared herself to a broad spectrum of fans.

For the first time, in her own words, Deborah recalls the highs and lows of working on stage and in front of the camera along with the behind-the-scenes personal struggles, and reminisces about working with a whole variety of famous acting names including the late and much-missed Patrick Troughton.

This edition, published to celebrate Deborah's fiftieth anniversary in Doctor Who has a special cover taken from the private collection of Alexandra Tynan (Sandra Reid) on location for The Evil of the Daleks.

Daddy's Girl (50th Anniversary edition) alretnative cover (Credit: Fantom Publishing)

Daddy's Girl: In Pictures (Credit: Fantom Publishing)

The fiftieth anniversary edition is also available to purchase with an alternative cover in a bundle alongside sister book Daddy's Girl: In Pictures, and a set of five The Abominable Snowmen Location postcards - full details on the Fantom website.

FILTER: - Auto/Biography - Books - Fantom

Win tickets to TV Utopia

Friday, 6 January 2017 - Reported by Chuck Foster

We have a pair of tickets up for grabs for the TV Utopia convention which takes place on the weekend 20th-22nd January, courtesy of organisers Fantom Films. To be in with a chance to win the tickets, simply answer the following question:

Name the autobiography of TV Utopia guest Derek Fowlds, recently released by Fantom Publishing.

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-fantom@doctorwhonews.net with the subject "Tuning In". The competition is open to UK readers only, closing date 13th January 2017. Only one entry per household will be accepted.

Come and enjoy a weekend in the gorgeous Eynsham Hall in Oxfordshire with likeminded fans, for what is set to be an unmissable weekend looking at the best in drama, light entertainment, children's television, science fiction and fantasy!

Over the weekend you will be able to watch interviews, collect autographs, pose for photos and meet some of your television favourites.

Friday night entertainment will include on stage activities and a classic TV pub quiz, plus rarely seen television treats courtesy of Talking Pictures, whilst on the Saturday evening teams led by two celebrity captains will be taking to the stage in Fantom's version of Telly Addicts! Plus vintage TV treats courtesy of Kaleidoscope.

TV Utopia promises to be a very special celebration of British Television and the actors and creatives who have made their mark on the television landscape.

Guests include: Louise Jameson, Lalla Ward, Derek Fowlds, Patricia Brake, Hugh Fraser, Pauline Moran, Ann Mitchell, Richard Dempsey, Sophie Cook, Lisa Geoghan, Cindy Shelley, Eric Richard, Sarah Phelps, Chris Perry (Kaleidoscope), and Sarah Cronin-Stanley / Neill Stanley (Talking Pictures).

FILTER: - Competitions - Conventions - Fantom

Fantom Publishing: Who Talk update

Saturday, 24 December 2016 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Who Talk: An Unearthly Child (Credit: Fantom Publishing)

Who Talk: Cyber60s (Credit: Fantom Publishing)

Fantom Publishing have released details on the next two releases in their Who Talk range of alternative audio commmentaries.

First up is the original television adventure, An Unearthly Child. Producer Paul W T Ballard explains:

"One of the first thoughts we had after the success of Web and Enemy, was to revisit the first Doctor Who story and complete the commentary for it. The original DVD release of An Unearthly Child covered only two out of four of the episodes, plus the pilot, whereas we have been able to introduce some new voices to the mix and complete all four instalments plus the pilot.

The commentary features William Russell (Ian Chesterton), Jeremy Young (Kal), Waris Hussein (Director), Brian Hodgson (Special Sound) and Clive Doig (Vision Mixer), and is moderated by the omnipresent Toby Hadoke.

The second release celebrates the Cyber 60s, with Paul saying:

Whilst we have an ongoing mission to cover episodes without any commentary at all, we are also having fun bringing new contributors to the fold to provide alternatives on some classic serials. I think Cyber60s is a fitting celebration of fifty years of one of Doctor Who's most popular monsters.

The set contains commentaries for the Patrick Troughton serials The Tomb of the Cybermen, The Wheel in Space and The Invasion. Moderated by both Paul and Toby, this release features Wendy Padbury (Zoe), Michael Kilgarriff (Cyber Controller), Sally Faulkner (Isobel), Sylvia James (Make-Up), Roger Bunce (Cameraman) and Marcia Wheeler (Assistant Floor Manager).

The company are also offering a special edition bundle featuring both commentaries: each set will be signed by an actor from each release as well as a both disc featuring additional commentaries on The Tenth Planet and The Moonbase. These CDs are very limited, and exclusively available via the Who Talk website.

Who Talk will return in 2017 with a full of schedule of alternative DVD Commentaries.

FILTER: - Audio - Fantom - First Doctor - Merchandise - Second Doctor

Whotopia - 30

Sunday, 11 December 2016 - Reported by Marcus

The latest issue of the fan magazine Whotopia has been released and is now available to download from the Whotopia website

In this issue

IN CONVERSATION WITH PETER DAVISON
THE DOCTOR IS NOT MILLIONS OF YEARS OLD
THE STORIES THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN: THE MCCOY ERA
OMEGA: THE LOST TIME LORD
UNDERAPPRECIATED MONSTERS & VILLIANS IN DOCTOR WHO
AN EVENING WITH MATTHEW WATERHOUSE
COLUMN: TARGET TRAWL
COLUMN: THE DOCTOR WHO SCHOLAR
WHO YOU BUILD
THE BLACK ARCHIVES: THE MASSACRE REVIEWED
WHAT’S ALL THE FUSS ABOUT…?
COLUMN: THE AUDIO ARCHIVES
MASTER WHO PART 3: ANTHONY AINLEY
POLARITY DAY: REMEMBERING JON PERTWEE
CLASS REVIEWED
THE BLACK ARCHIVES VOLUME 1-3
COLUMN: THE CURATE’S EGG

The magazine can be downloaded for free from whotopia.ca.

FILTER: - Fan Productions - Peter Davison

London Doctor Who meeting venue re-opens

Thursday, 1 December 2016 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Jeremy Bentham has announced the return of regular Doctor Who fan meetings in central London:

THE FITROY TAVERN in Central London has reopened its doors to visitors following completion of a year-long, multi-million pound refurbishment that had seen Fitzrovia's most celebrated pub upgraded and restored to its original Victorian splendour.

Since 1984 'The Tavern' has played host to the regular First Thursday of each month evening gatherings of Doctor Who fans, keen to meet, exchange gossip, share or catch up on news and compare views on all things Who-related. In keeping with the area's reputation for attracting the famous, celebrated attendees of First Thursday gatherings have, down the years, included Douglas Adams, John Nathan-Turner, Terrance Dicks, Barry Lettrs, Nick Briggs, Steven Moffat and a good many faces from Doctor Who Magazine, past and present.

At ground level 'The Tavern' has now been divided into four separate bars, each with its own distinctive Victorian style. The Edwardian-styled upstairs is more spacious and likely to be the area most frequented by fans. This area also includes the dining area.

Located on the corner of Windmill Street and Charlotte Street, THE FITZROY TAVERN’s nearest Underground Station is Goodge Street on the Northern Line.

The next First Thursday gathering will take place on 1st December.

FILTER: - Fan Meetings - UK

The Lost Doctor

Thursday, 24 November 2016 - Reported by Marcus

A fan produced audio adventure exploring one of the biggest ‘What Ifs…?’ in Doctor Who history has been released to coincide with the show’s 53rd anniversary.

Ken Campbell was the Time Lord who almost was when he lost out to Sylvester McCoy for the role of the Seventh Doctor in 1987.

In this new adventure, the actor finally claims the helm of time and space in an original, fan-made episode, written by long-time fan Tom Calderbank, that introduces a brand new companion, a new villain and the TARDIS’ elusive Eternity Room…

The Lost Doctor is available online for free.

FILTER: - Fan Productions

Temporal Logbook II: Open Submission Day

Tuesday, 26 July 2016 - Reported by Marcus

Pencil Tip Publishing will be holding an Open Submission Day on July 31st for their new short-story collection, The Temporal Logbook II.

The Temporal Logbook II, is a Doctor Who themed short-story collection and the follow-up companion to 2015s highly successful collection The Temporal Logbook.

As with the original short-story collection, this new volume will feature twelve original stories by new and up-in-coming writers. All twelve television incarnations of the Doctor will be featured with a story dedicated to that particular incarnation.

The editors are seeking story proposals for the latest collection. To contribute a story proposal all you have to do is:

Submit a 1-2 page outline detailing the basic plot of your story and the characters featured
Provide your full name and email,
Include a brief bio telling us a bit about yourself

** The full Submission Guidelines can be found at: thetemporallogbook.wordpress.com

The editors will be accepting proposals on Sunday, July 31, 2016 from 12:00pm Pacific Time to 12:00am Pacific Time only. (1900-0700 GMT)

The Temporal Logbook II will be published by Canadian publisher Pencil Tip Publishing, with proceeds from the publication being donated to a charity of their choice. Last year's publication benefited the Positive Living Society of British Columbia.

Publication has been set for 2017.

FILTER: - Fan Productions - Merchandise