Doctor Who Live began its tour of the UK at London's Wembley Arena on Friday night.

The event, which marks the start of a four week tour across the UK, was attended by the current Doctor, Matt Smith, who was there with girlfriend Daisy Lowe. Smith appears in the show via a giant screen showing special pre-recorded inserts during the performance.

The show is set around a travelling showman, Vorgenson, played by Nigel Planer, who heads around the galaxy spreading stories of the Doctor's exploits, using his minimiser gadget to conjure up the Doctor's enemies. The script, by Gareth Roberts, is based on the 1973 Jon Pertwee story, Carnival of Monsters, originally by Robert Holmes.

Among the creatures conjured up for the show are Judoon, Weeping Angel, Scarecrows and Venetian Vampires. The live action is set to the music of Doctor Who composer Murray Gold, conducted by Ben Foster.

Reaction to the show on twitter have been positive with comments such as "The Doctor Who Live event is just barmy and amazing and clever and fun"

Guests attending the first night included Catherine Tate, Richard Curtis, Fiona Phillips and Jo Whiley.

Producer Craig Stanley said
After two more shows in London, the tour moves north to Sheffield.

The performance of Doctor Who Live scheduled for the Glasgow SECC on 14th October has been cancelled for what is described as logistical reasons.

Ticket holders should contact the box office which is offering refunds or seats at alternative performances during the run.

The British Film Institute is giving fans in London a chance to see a special preview of The Sarah Jane Adventures story, Death of the Doctor. The two part story by Russell T Davies not only features a special appearance from Matt Smith as The Doctor but also sees the return of Katy Manning to the role of Jo Grant, a part she last played on television in 1973.

The showing will be followed by a special panel discussion with Elisabeth Sladen (Sarah Jane Smith), Brian Minchin (Producer), Gary Russell (Script Editor) and Edward Russell (Brand Manager). The event will be hosted by the BFI's Justin Johnson.

The special showing is on Tuesday 12th October at 8pm and takes place at the NFT1 on London's South Bank.

Tickets cost £9, concs £6.65 and are available from the BFI Website or by ringing the box office on 020 7928 3232.

The extended edition of the Doctor Who Prom was broadcast on BBC Three yesterday where it was watched by an average of 0.28 million viewers, according to unofficial overnight figures. The programme had a 1.4% share of the audience. The audience rose steadily throughout the 90 minute programme with the final half hour wining the timeslot on multi-channel television.

Monday's 60 minute version of the programme had an Appreciation Index of 89.

The Prom is now available to viewers in the UK on the BBC iPlayer and a High Definition version of the 60 minute programme will be broadcast on BBC HD today at 5.25pm.

The BBC have also added several clips from the Prom onto their YouTube site. Clips may not be available outside the UK.

Doctor Who Theme Tune
David Tennant regenerates into Matt Smith
Symphony of The Daleks
Monsters and Female Vampires

Doctor Who monsters have continued their invasion of key UK cities arriving in Belfast on Tuesday to promote the upcoming Doctor Who Live tour. The visit, which saw Cybermen, Scarecrows and Silurian Warriors outside Belfast City Hall, was reported by BBC News and the Belfast Telegraph.

Last week the monsters visited the famous Cavern Club in Matthew Street in Liverpool as reported by the Liverpool Echo.

The Doctor Who Live Tour kicks off at Wembley Arena on 8th October and tours across the UK until November 7th.

SFX has uploaded more interviews with the creative team behind Doctor Who Live.

The magazine talks to Will Brenton, Director Of Doctor Who Live who talks about how the show is being put together.

To Ben Foster the arranger and musical director who tells of how he has arranged the music for the tour and of the importance of music to the show.

And to Paul Hardy-Brown one half of the illusionists engaged to bring magic, illusion and special FX to the show.

With the launch of Doctor Who Live just over a month away, publicity is gearing up with more details available on the format of the show.

Director Will Brenton has been talking to SFX and confirmed the stage show touring the UK this Autumn takes the 1973 Jon Pertwee story, The Carnival Of Monsters as its inspiration. The 3rd Doctor story featured a character created by Robert Holmes called Vorg, who owns a Miniscope, a machine that keeps miniaturised groups of creatures in versions of their natural environments. The stage show features Nigel Planer playing a brand new Doctor Who character called Vorgenson, who is able to conjure up foes of the Doctor.

Brenton told the magazine
Monsters from the series have been appearing around the UK to promote the show. In Sheffield the city's Peace Gardens were invaded by Cybermen, while in Nottingham Clockwork Droids were spotted in the Old Market Square. Meanwhile Silurian warriors scared schoolchildren in Birmingham's Victoria Square.

The Bournemouth Daily Echo has been talking to The Twins the identical twin illusionists who are acting as creative consultants on the stage show.

The Doctor himself, Matt Smith, has been talking about the show to Radio One's Newsbeat. Although Smith will only appear in the show in pre recorded video inserts, the actor has said he is likely to be at the launch night.

The BBC has announced that extra content showing behind the scenes material from the Doctor Who Prom will be available to UK viewers via the Red Button service.

Described as a VIP access-all-areas view of the Prom which took place last month, the material will include interviews with Matt Smith, Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill and follow their preparations as they get ready to take the stage.

The service will begin on Monday 6th September, the same day the Prom is broadcast on BBC Three. Red Button viewers will also be able to see music cut from the main BBC Three transmission as well as a look at the audience through the eyes of some of the Doctor Who aliens.

The National Space Centre in the Midlands will be playing host to an invasion of Daleks on the 11th-12th September, to help raise money for Children in Need.

Malika Andress, Communications Manager at the National Space Centre:

The event will also see appearances by guests from Doctor Who; Ruaru Mears (various monsters) will be there on the Saturday, Nina De Cosimo (Blanche in Victory Of The Daleks) and Sonila Vjeshta (Vampire girl in The Vampires of Venice) on the Sunday. More guests are expected and will be announced nearer the date. The Hyde Fundraisers will also be in attendance, who will be hosting a sculpting demonstration as well as bringing a range of adversaries to the proceedings!

For more information see the National Space Museum's event page.

Former star of The Young Ones, Nigel Planer is to take a lead role in the upcoming Doctor Who Live Tour.

Planer is best known for his role as TV hippy Neil in the classic comedy series but he has also appeared in many West End musicals, including Evita, Chicago, We Will Rock You, Wicked and Hairspray.

The live show, first announced in May, is touring nine UK cities this Autumn and will feature Daleks, Cybermen, Clockwork Droids, Silurians and Weeping Angels.

Planer will act as the production's lynchpin, starring as travelling showman Vorgensen who journeys the galaxy spreading tales of the Doctor's exploits and using his 'minimiser' gadget he can conjure up any of the Time Lord's foes for his audience.

Looking forward to the production Planer said

Matt Smith will appear via filmed sequences which have been made just for the stage show and renowned illusionists The Twins have devised stunts which will enable a Dalek to be seen flying during the performances.

Actor Nick Briggs, who has voiced numerous monsters for the series including Daleks and Cybermen, will also be in the live cast, playing Winston Churchill in addition to some of the villains.

The tour begins at London's Wembley Arena on October 8 with further details at www.doctorwholive.com.