Peter Capaldi Visits Refugee Camps in Jordan

Wednesday, 27 January 2016 - Reported by Marcus
Peter Capaldi meets Syrian Refugees in Jordon (Credit: UNHCR/Jordi Matas)Peter Capaldi has made his first journey with the UN Refugee Agency, to witness some of the front-line work the charity is doing in the middle east.

The UNHCR, a United Nations agency mandated to protect and support refugees, is currently helping some of the 630,000 Syrian refugees living in Jordan. The charity took the actor to meet some of the people displaced by the conflict in Syria and to see some of the work being done to support them.

A short film of the actor's experience in the region has been released, along with pictures from the visit. More content from the trip will be released over the next few weeks, including a virtual reality experience.

Updates from the trip can be seen on the Peter Capaldi UNHCR page.

The UNHCR told Doctor Who News how delighted they were to have the support of the Twelfth Doctor.
We’re thrilled to have Peter support our work and to have his interest in learning more about the situation facing families across the word who have been forced to flee their homes because of war and conflict. We’d love you to take this journey with Peter and with us over the coming weeks, and beyond.





FILTER: - Peter Capaldi

The Complete Ninth Series: Blu-ray/DVD details announced

Monday, 21 December 2015 - Reported by Chuck Foster
BBC Worldwide have released details for the forthcoming on The Complete Ninth Series, due out in the United Kingdom on Blu-ray/DVD from 7th March 2016 and in North America from 5th April 2016.

The Complete Ninth Series (DVD) (Credit: BBC Worldwide)


The Complete Ninth Series (Blu-ray) (Credit: BBC Worldwide)

Doctor Who: The Complete Ninth Series
Released 7th March 2016 (UK), 5th April (USA/Canada)

Peter Capaldi returns as the Doctor alongside Jenna Coleman with guests including Game of Thrones’ Maisie Williams. Now that the Doctor and Clara have established a dynamic as a partnership of equals, they’re relishing the fun and thrills that all of space and time has to offer. Tangling with ghosts, Vikings and the ultimate evil of the Daleks, they embark on their biggest adventures yet. Missy is back to plague the Doctor once more, the Zygons inspire fear as they shape-shift into human clones, and a new arrival moves in cosmic way.

The DVD and Blu-ray contains all twelve episodes from Peter Capaldi’s second series in the role, with guest star’s Maisie Williams and Rufus Hound as well as the brilliant Missy (played by Michelle Gomez). The Complete Boxset also contains the 2014 Christmas Special, Last Christmas and this year’s highly anticipated The Husbands of River Song and more than four hours’ worth of VAM, including:

DVD Commentaries:
  • Under the Lake and Before the Flood: actor Sophie Stone, writer Toby Whithouse, producer Derek Ritchie
  • The Woman Who Lived: actor Maisie Williams, producer Derek Ritchie
  • Sleep No More: actor Reece Shearsmith, writer Mark Gatiss
All The Doctor Who Extras from Series 9:
  • Doctor Who Extra: The Magician’s Apprentice & The Witch’s Familiar
    Peter Capaldi reveals all, and shows off his guitar riffs, as we get the inside story on this stunning two-parter. Featuring additional interviews with Michelle Gomez and Steven Moffat.
  • Doctor Who Extra: Under the Lake & Before the Flood
    Go backstage and meet some very ghastly monsters! Discover the secret of a special celebrity appearance as Paul Kaye welcomes us on location, and we reveal how to make a big splash on set. Featuring interviews with Peter Capaldi, Jenna Coleman, writer Toby Whithouse and production designer Michael Pickwoad.
  • Doctor Who Extra: The Girl Who Died & The Woman Who Lived
    Maisie Williams talks about crossing fandoms, celebrates her birthday with an impromptu quiz, and generally everyone has a lot of fun, as Rufus Hound gives us a unique view of what it’s like to make Doctor Who. Featuring interviews with Peter Capaldi and Maisie Williams.
  • Doctor Who Extra: The Zygon Invasion & The Zygon Inversion
    The Zygons are back! We discover how a Zygon keeps fit, and Ingrid Oliver tells of her delight at once more playing the Doctor’s biggest fan, Osgood! Featuring interviews with Peter Capaldi, Jenna Coleman and Ingrid Oliver.
  • Doctor Who Extra: Sleep No More
    Mark Gatiss reveals the story behind the horror, Reece Shearsmith reviews the importance of space glasses, and we look at the challenges of making this unique episode. Featuring interviews with Peter Capaldi, Jenna Coleman and Steven Moffat.
  • Doctor Who Extra: Face the Raven
    Joivan Wade (Rigsy) is shocked to be back, but he’s not the only character to return for this unforgettable adventure, as we discover the perils of thinking you are invincible. Featuring interviews with Peter Capaldi, Jenna Coleman and Steven Moffat.
  • Doctor Who Extra: Heaven Sent & Hell Bent
    Steven Moffat and director Rachel Talalay reveal the challenges of creating the puzzle-box that is Heaven Sent, we get wind-blown in Fuerteventura, and we witness the departure of a companion as we go on set for Jenna Coleman’s last day of filming. Featuring interviews with Peter Capaldi, Jenna Coleman, Steven Moffat and Rachel Talalay.
  • Doctor Who Extra: The Husbands of River Song
    Matt Lucas is our guide as we join River Song, the Doctor and a star-liner full of supervillains for this festive Christmas special. We get the heads-up on the Hydroflax from Greg Davies, reveal Alex Kingston’s favourite Sonic, and we find out what Peter Capaldi is getting for Christmas. Featuring interviews with Peter Capaldi, Alex Kingston, and Steven Moffat.
Doctor Who Documentaries:
  • Writing Who
    The definitive guide for a would-be Doctor Who scriptwriter. We follow Sarah Dollard on her intricate journey to create her episode, Trap Street. From the highs of pitching her original idea to Steven Moffat, to the challenges of writing her first draft – faced with a blank page and typing Int. TARDIS Day - to seeing her episode becoming reality.
  • Dalek Devotion
    Peter Capaldi and Steven Moffat reveal the inspiration for the return of the Daleks to the incredible season opener of series 9, how their earliest memories have shaped their devotion to the ultimate killing machine, and the journey to the Dalek homeland of Skaro.
  • The Adventures of River Song
    Join Alex Kingston and Steven Moffat as we look forward to River’s return in The Husbands of River Song. Find out how River’s character came to be created, why Alex just had to play the role, what happened when the cast discovered who River really is. Narrated by Nina Toussaint-White.
  • Doctor Who: Sublime Online
    A video selection box of the funniest, most insightful and engaging online treats from behind the scenes of Series 9. With interviews and magical moments from Peter Capaldi, Jenna Coleman and Steven Moffat, and featuring a host of guest stars, including Maisie Williams, Michelle Gomez, Rufus Hound, Ingrid Oliver and Slipknot.
  • Clara’s Journey
    In 2012, Jenna Coleman joined Doctor Who and took her place in television history as the Doctor’s newest companion, Clara Oswald. Having become the longest serving companion since the revival of the show, Clara’s time on the TARDIS has now come to an end, so we can now look back at just what made the Impossible Girl, well, possible. Featuring interviews with Peter Capaldi, Matt Smith and Jenna Coleman. Narrated by Colin McFarlane.
  • The Fan Show’s Finest
    Christel Dee gives a whistle-stop guide to Doctor Who: The Fan Show the online series that celebrates Doctor Who and the amazing creativity of the show's fans. We get a peek inside Steven Moffat’s writing lair, take a look into the Old Monster’s Retirement Home and step into the amazing world of Minecraft to find out how fans are celebrating their love for the show online. We even get face to face with the Doctor and Missy to ask them all the questions the fans want to know.
  • Other VAM includes the Series 9 US prequel - The Doctor’s Meditation, deleted Scenes, Series 8 recap and all Series 9 trailers and prologue, the 2015 San Diego Comic Con Panel and an interview with Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman hosted by Wil Wheaton.

The Complete Series Nine will be available to pre-order from our Amazon Shops in the UK (Blu-ray/DVD), USA (Blu-ray/DVD) and Canada (Blu-ray/DVD), and can also be purchased from the BBC Shop and other retailers. (please note that at the time of writing only Amazon in the USA have the item up for pre-order, the others are expected to have it available shortly)




FILTER: - BBC Worldwide - Blu-ray/DVD - Jenna Coleman - Peter Capaldi - Twelfth Doctor

The Husbands of River Song: press interviews

Thursday, 10 December 2015 - Reported by Chuck Foster
The Husbands of River Song (Credit: BBC/Simon Ridgway)The BBC have released interviews with Peter Capaldi, Alex Kingston and Steven Moffat to promote the forthcoming Christmas special, The Husbands of River Song.

What can you tell us about the Doctor Who Christmas special this year?
Well the Christmas special is very Christmassy, which I’m sure everyone will be relieved to hear. It finds the Doctor in a Dickensian kind of world, in a Christmas card sort of world which he’s been brought to in order to do a favour for a king. So there’s quite a festive spirit to the episode. But the favour is more complex and isn’t exclusively for the benefit of the king, but more for the benefit of the king’s consort.

What is your favourite scene from this episode?
I have lots of favourite scenes from the Christmas episode, but I think being met by Matt Lucas on a wonderful wintery Dickensian street with the TARDIS covered in snow was delightful, because it was like a Doctor Who Christmas card. Matt is such a fabulously funny person to have around, so I loved that!

Do you like filming Christmas episodes?
Yes I do like them - last year’s was a bit scarier than this one, this is more openly festive. I like the idea of ghost stories at Christmas and frightening things seem to work rather well in the festive environment.

Would you like to see River Song return?
Yes of course, because Alex is fabulous and it’s always lovely to work with her.

Who is Nardole?
The character of Nardole is played by Matt Lucas so you can expect a lot of laughs and pathos. He is, as ever, a hugely loveable personality, a little naïve, a little out of his depth and quite cosmic.
What was it like to come back?
I was quite surprised when I was asked to come back, but I was happy to because I just thought it would be great fun. It’s such a great character, she’s become so beloved by lots of fans and I’ve had them saying it would be so great for her to come back and to see her interacting with Peter Capaldi’s Doctor. I was actually thrilled when Steven decided he wanted to explore that too.

What did you think of the script?
It’s a wonderful slapstick caper. There’s a lot of great laughs, there’s a lot of fabulous River one-liners. The fans are going to love the things she says and there’s a lot of play. They’re also fighting a very interesting alien played by Greg Davies. It’s a really great episode and Steven has done my character proud.

Has this episode been challenging?
I’ve been really lucky in this episode as River gets to do an awful lot. She gets to run around in snow, I’ve been flying and have done harness work against a green screen. She’s got quite a few husbands in this episode and there’s a lot of fabulous quick-fire dialogue between her and the Doctor. She gets to snog the most handsome man in the work, his character name is Ramone. It’s all going on!

What were your favourite moments during filming?
The favourite moment so far for me was stepping back on to the TARDIS, because the interior of it has changed yet again. I’ve been on two different TARDIS incarnations, and to walk into this one and know it’s a familiar space but at the same time it’s different, was great. I love this one - everything works which is really fun, I stand there pressing all the buttons, it’s great!
Can you give us an introduction to the episode you’ve written this year?
The Doctor is an all new man and has been for a while. It may have slipped his mind that out there, in a very tangled and complicated way, is his wife that has never seen this face before and doesn’t even know about this incarnation. We’re about to stand with the Doctor and see what River is like when she doesn’t know he’s looking. We’re about to see what River thinks of Matt Smith turning into Peter Capaldi.

What made you want to write this episode?
River Song meets the Capaldi Doctor, that’s got to be fun - I’d like to write that. That’s what made me want to write. I knew it had to be a big romp for Christmas day and there’s nothing like River Song to make that evident - River brings a whole storm of camp glamour to it.

Is it any different writing a Christmas episode of Doctor Who?
Yes, you need to have a bit of Christmas in it, but that’s never felt to me like a tremendous impediment, it’s a hook to hang it on. Sometimes we go very Christmassy - ‘A Christmas Carol’ was incredibly Christmassy, so was ‘The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe’ and ‘The Snowmen’ had the appearance of Christmas without being very Christmassy. Last Christmas is actually the least Christmassy episode we’ve ever done, except for the fact it actually had Santa Claus in it - I rather loved last Christmas. This year’s episode starts Christmassy and has a comedy romp!

Do you enjoy writing a Christmas episode?
I like Christmas specials - I know some people don’t. Some friends of mine don’t like Christmas specials very much and they’re always complaining about all the tinsel, the goodwill and the twinkly stars, and the lovely snow on the rooftops. I love all that, I love Christmas as a day and as a festival. I love that it’s dark, twinkly and rich red, all those things I adore so it’s no hardship for me at all.

Who is King Hydroflax?
King Hydroflax is a very bad King, who as it turns out is mostly cyborg - in fact only his head has remained. He’s a vicious, terrible and deeply stupid man and a dreadful tyrant.




FILTER: - Peter Capaldi - Press - Series Specials - Steven Moffat

The Underwater Menace: North American Release Update

Friday, 4 December 2015 - Reported by Dan Collins
The Underwater Menace (Credit: BBC)In a previous article Doctor Who News reported that The Underwater Menace would be getting a January 19, 2016 release date in North America. At the time BBC Home Entertainment and Warner Home Video, the North American distrubutor for Doctor Who, hadn't confirmed a release date. Tvshowsondvd.com is now reporting that Amazon.com has updated The Underwater Menace page to show a March 1, 2016 release. No official confirmation has been received from the BBC or Warner Home Video so all release dates will be considered tentative.




FILTER: - Canada - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD - Patrick Troughton - Second Doctor - USA

The Husbands of River Song: new publicity images

Thursday, 3 December 2015 - Reported by Chuck Foster
The BBC have released some promotional profile photos of characters who appear in this year's Christmas Special, The Husbands of River Song. The images portray Peter Capaldi as the Doctor, Alex Kingston as River Song, Rowan Polonski as Remming and Phillip Rhys as Ramone.

The Husbands of River Song Profile Images (BBC/Ray Burmiston/Simon Ridgway)The Husbands of River Song Profile Images (BBC/Ray Burmiston/Simon Ridgway)The Husbands of River Song Profile Images (BBC/Ray Burmiston/Simon Ridgway)The Husbands of River Song Profile Images (BBC/Ray Burmiston/Simon Ridgway)The Husbands of River Song Profile Images (BBC/Ray Burmiston/Simon Ridgway)The Husbands of River Song Profile Images (BBC/Ray Burmiston/Simon Ridgway)The Husbands of River Song Profile Images (BBC/Ray Burmiston/Simon Ridgway)The Husbands of River Song Profile Images (BBC/Ray Burmiston/Simon Ridgway)The Husbands of River Song Profile Images (BBC/Ray Burmiston/Simon Ridgway)




FILTER: - Peter Capaldi - Publicity - Series Specials

Release date and trailer for Series 9 DVDs/Blu-Rays in Germany

Thursday, 26 November 2015 - Reported by Pascal Salzmann
Series 9 GERMAN Preview-Cover (Credit: Polyband)German DVD distributer Polyband released a trailer for the upcoming Series 9 DVD and Blu-Ray boxed set, announcing the release date even before the UK.

The 6-disc set, containing all 12 episodes of Series 9 as well as the upcoming Christmas Special, will be released on 18th March 2016. According to the Polyband Website, there will be many bonus features on the set, including a 45 minute interview with the cast, conducted by former Star Trek: The Next Generation actor Will Wheaton.

Series 9 will premier in Germany on 3rd December 2015 on the TV channel FOX. You can already pre-order the DVD's and the Blu-Rays at Amazon Germany.






FILTER: - Blu-ray/DVD - Germany - Jenna Coleman - Peter Capaldi - Series 9/35

New publicity image for Face The Raven

Sunday, 15 November 2015 - Reported by Chuck Foster
The BBC have released a new promotional image for next week's episode, Face the Raven, due to be broadcast at 8:10pm on BBC One.

Face The Raven: The Doctor and Clara, as played by Peter Capaldi and Jenna Colman (Credit: BBC/Simon Ridgway)




FILTER: - Jenna Coleman - Peter Capaldi - Publicity - Series 9/35

Peter Capaldi talks to BBC Radio 1

Wednesday, 4 November 2015 - Reported by Marcus
Peter Capaldi today talked to The Radio 1 Breakfast Show with Nick Grimshaw about Jenna Coleman’s unexpected last Doctor Who scene and Maisie Williams teasing him with Game of Thrones spoilers.

Capaldi talked about the international success of the show and how much he is enjoying the role.
You wake up in the morning and think I'm going to blow up some Daleks...It's just a gas. How could you not like that.
He spoke about working with Jenna Coleman and how it was filming her departure from the series.
It was really sad. She's great fun and just wonderful to work with. I've had a great time with her...She was fabulous in her last scene. It is very clever what happens in it, but very sad. Really sad. Get lots of hankies ready.
Caplaidi also talked about working with Game of Thrones star Maisie Williams, confirming the character will return in episode 10 of the current series.
She's just such a laugh. She keeps teaching me new words because she thinks I'm a really ancient old guy. She's great to have around.
An upcoming episode features just Capaldi as the Doctor, with no other characters in the story.
Because its just you, you work much more closely with the rest of the crew. It makes you realise how much you bounce off other actors. It's a really strange episode but I don't want to give anything away.
Peter Capalid was also asked about the future of the Sonic Glasses and whether the Sonic Screwdriver would be back.
I think those fans of the sonic screwdriver should not fret. Fear not. Don't lose any sleep. But I do like the shades.
You can listen to the whole interview on the BBC iPlayer (from 02:23:46 in)




FILTER: - Peter Capaldi

Photograph of the complete Web of Fear and Enemy of the World film cans released

Sunday, 11 October 2015 - Reported by Pascal Salzmann
Philip Morris of Television International Enterprises Archives (TIEA), who returned nine previously missing episodes of Doctor Who to the BBC Archives in 2013, recently revealed that he had found all episodes of The Web of Fear back then. Episode 3, featuring the first appearance of Colonel Lethbridge-Stewart, went missing again shortly after the discovery, presumably stolen and sold to a private collector.

The Doctor Who Missing Episodes Discussion Group on Facebook has now been given a photo of all 12 film cans found in Africa. They posted the picture on the Facebook group with permission by Philip Morris. On the photo you can see the production code PP (The Enemy of the World) written on the side of one of the cans, the further eleven cans are also part of that serial and of the following story The Web of Fear (Code QQ). Among them is the now once again missing episode 3 of the classic "Yeti's in the Underground"-story.

The following statement was released on Facebook:
On the second anniversary of the release of the newly-recovered and restored “Enemy Of The World” and “Web Of Fear”, Philip Morris, Executive Director of TIEA has authorized us (The Doctor Who Missing Episodes Group on Facebook) to release this photograph of the twelve film cans which he originally discovered in Jos, Nigeria.

This photo was taken immediately after Phil had discovered the film cans and verified that the film reels inside matched what was on the labels.

As you are no doubt aware, one of these film cans - the one containing Episode 3 of “The Web Of Fear” – went missing in between when this photo was taken (in late 2011) and when the cans were delivered to the central collection point in Abuja, Nigeria. The location and disposition of this film can and its contents is currently unknown.

Film Cans found in Jos, Africa (Credit: Doctor Who Missing Episodes Discussion Group & TIEA Ltd)

Philip Morris put out the following statement:
The picture you see is one I took after checking the 12 Doctor Who film cans in Jos in 2011. All film leaders were checked to ensure cans matched their contents, this is a practice we follow in fine detail with due care shown. All programmes held at this station were physically checked by myself and my own team. No undue attention was drawn to the Doctor Who prints by myself or any of my staff, however I instructed one of my trusted team to ensure the Doctor Who prints were hidden until authorisation for retrieval could be obtained.

However two prints, one QQ3 Web of Fear 3 and another spare print were taken from one of my guys by a guy at the station who took the two prints to his office. This was reported to me within hours. I was not unduly concerned I knew their location. I have to admit I was really excited and told somebody I thought would not leak any sensitive information - big big mistake. Within 4/5 days the station had been named online. Fortunately by this time our job was done, however what of Web 3? I physically searched Jos again, asked the guy who took the films where they were. Initially he denied all knowledge until I produced the picture-he just looked at the floor and said he put them back on the shelf.

I didn't believe a word, and took the pictures and with one of my collegues and went straight to the top of the NTA, however the guy simply denied it. That is until earlier this year when I returned to Nigeria. I met the same guy again so I asked him directly - he just laughed and said "I don't know anything about missing episodes."
I firmly believe this episode is in the hands of a fan and we will trace it. I hope this goes someway to explain why I must maintain a certain level of security around TIEA and its work.
Thanks to the Doctor Who Missing Episodes Group and to Philip Morris for the kind permission to publish the picture on DWN.








FILTER: - Classic Series - Missing episodes - Patrick Troughton - Second Doctor

The Underwater Menace

Monday, 5 October 2015 - Reported by Chuck Foster
BBC Worldwide have now confirmed the details for the forthcoming release of The Underwater Menace on DVD, due on the 26th October 2015:

The Underwater Menace
Release date: 26 Oct 2015 UK (available for pre-order)

The Underwater Menace - DVD cover (Credit: BBC Worldwide)Starring Patrick Troughton as Doctor Who, with Michael Craze as Ben Jackson, Anneke Wills as Polly, and Frazer Hines as Jamie McCrimmon
Written by Geoffrey Orme
Directed by Julia Smith

Broadcast: 14 Jan - 4 Feb 1967

The TARDIS lands in the lost city of Atlantis, where the crazed Professor Zaroff has convinced the Atlanteans that he can raise their city from beneath the sea. But the Doctor discovers the terrible truth behind Zaroff’s plan – he intends to destroy the entire planet. With the doomsday clock ticking, the Doctor and his companions must battle to prevent the apocalypse...


The Underwater Menace is the fifth serial of the fourth season, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from 14 January 1967 to 4 February 1967. The story introduces Jamie McCrimmon's (Frazer Hines) on his first journey with the Doctor as a travelling companion. This special release will contain the two re-mastered existing episodes, with the two missing episodes represented with restored audio and surviving stills, as well as over an hour of extras.

Special Features:
  • Commentary - For episode 1, Interview with actor Michael Troughton Part 2 (from The Ice Warriors). For episodes 2 and 3, a commentary with actors Anneke Wills, Frazer Hines and Catherine Howe, special sounds supervisor Brian Hodgson and floor assistant Quentin Mann. For episode 4, archive material featuring Patrick Troughton, directors Julia Smith and Hugh David, and producer Innes Lloyd. Moderated and linked by Toby Hadoke.
  • A Fishy Tale (Feature, dur. 28’ 30”) – cast and crew look back on the making of the story. With actors Anneke Wills, Frazer Hines and Catherine Howe, AFM Gareth Gwenlan, production assistant Berry Butler and new series writer Robert Shearman. Narrated by Peter Davison.
  • The Television Centre of the Universe – Part Two (dur. 32’ 10” ) – Yvette Fielding continues her tour of BBC Television Centre in the company of actors Peter Davison, Janet Fielding and Mark Strickson, with contributions from former colleagues along the way. With senior camera supervisor Alec Wheal, AFM Sue Hedden, former BBC producer and writer Richard Marson, exhibitions assistant Bob Richardson, production assistant Jane Ashford and videotape engineer Simon Anthony.






FILTER: - Blu-ray/DVD - Patrick Troughton - Second Doctor