Sarah Jane Ratings - The Vault of Secrets

Tuesday, 2 November 2010 - Reported by Marcus
Sarah Jane AdventuresThe second story in the current run of The Sarah Jane Adventures once again topped the weekly ratings for CBBC.

Part One of The Vault of Secrets had a confirmed audience of 731,000 viewers with Part Two getting 606,000 watching. Both episodes were repeated later in the week on BBC One where they had around 400,000 watching according to overnight figures. Final figures for the BBC One showing will be out later in the month.

The Sarah Jane Alien Files had 420,000 watching.




FILTER: - Ratings - UK - Sarah Jane

The Doctor Who Experience: update

Tuesday, 2 November 2010 - Reported by Chuck Foster
As reported in September, the existing Doctor Who exhibitions will close by early next year, and are to be combined into a new exhibition to be called The Doctor Who Experience. A few more details have now been released about the project.

The exhibition is to be designed by Design and AV specialist Sarner, a company well-versed in building large-scale projects such as museums and theme parks attractions. Says Michael Bennett, Sarner's creative director:
Our idea was to put the visitor into a Doctor Who adventure. The show section features powerful scenic recreations, including a TARDIS interior, and uses a storyline featuring the current Doctor, Matt Smith, who we've been fortunate enough to work with.
The exhibition is to feature an immersive, timed dark walk experience where visitors will become involved in "their very own Doctor Who adventure, helping the Doctor with a journey through time and space, fending off threats from iconic monsters along the way." Special effects and exclusively filmed footage will also form a part of the experience, including scenes with the 11th Doctor (Matt Smith) and a recreation of his TARDIS console room.

As well as the 'adventure', the project will also include the more traditional exhibition, charting the entire history of the show from its humble beginnings in 1963 to the most recent series, with interactive areas, displays and memorabilia from the television show. Items in the exhibition include two versions of the TARDIS console room, harking from the 5th and 10th Doctor eras, the police box exterior circa 4th Doctor, and very recent props such as the Pandorica. Monsters include several generations of the Daleks and Cybermen, as well as Silurians, an Ice Warrior and a Zygon.

Steven Moffat, Head Writer and Executive Producer for Doctor Who, is enthusiatic about the project:
The Doctor Who Experience is a fan's dream come true - a fully interactive adventure that will allow viewers of the show to get as close as possible to some of the scariest monsters from the series. It will also be the first time that Doctor Who artefacts from all the show's 47-year history - classic and new - will be on display together, many of them being seen for the first time. And never mind that, this is the day the Doctor teaches you how to fly the Tardis through time and space, and takes you into battle with all his deadliest enemies in a brand new adventure.

So steady your nerves and bring your own sofa - the Doctor needs you.
Matt Smith, the Doctor:
The whole concept of the Doctor Who Experience is massively exciting! I hope as many people as possible enjoy boarding the TARDIS next year to embark upon an exhilarating and sometimes terrifying adventure through time and space.

The Doctor Who Experience is set to open at London's Olympia on 20th February 2011, and then move to its permanent home in Cardiff during 2012. Tickets go on sale from the website from the 18th November, with prices ranging from £15-£20.




FILTER: - Exhibitions

Mervyn Haisman

Sunday, 31 October 2010 - Reported by Chuck Foster
We are saddened to report the death of the writer Mervyn Haisman.

An actor in his early career, Mervyn Haisman turned his hand to writing, forming a partnership with Henry Lincoln where together they penned three Doctor Who stories for the Patrick Troughton era of the series. The Abominable Snowmen saw the first appearance from the slopes of the Himalayas of the Yeti - robotic servants of the Great Intelligence. The strength of this first story subsequently led to the sequel The Web of Fear, which also saw creation of one of the most enduring guest characters in the series, Alistair Gordon Lethbridge Stewart (The Brigadier). Their third outing The Dominators introduced the Quarks, but artistic disagreements with the production team ended further contributions to Doctor Who. However, their association with the show was to be marked once again with a credit on The Sarah Jane Adventures story Enemy of the Bane for Sir Alistair.

Haisman went on to script-edit a number of television series, notably Sutherland's Law (alongside future Doctor Who producer Graham Williams), Jubilee, and some seventeen episodes of The Onedin Line. He also wrote a number of episodes for the popular 1980s drama Howards' Way.

Mervyn Haisman (died 29th October 2010)





FILTER: - Obituary - Classic Series

Sarah Jane Adventures

Friday, 29 October 2010 - Reported by Marcus
Press details are now available for the final three stories in the current series of The Sarah Jane Adventures

4: The Empty Planet
Monday 1 and Tuesday 2 November, CBBC
Part One
Clyde and Rani wake up one day to discover that they are the only survivors of the human race, as the alien-busting adventures series continues. The whole of Earth is empty – even Sarah Jane has vanished. But a deserted London holds terrors of its own. Strange forces lurk in the shadows, as mysterious visitors approach...
Clyde and Rani meet their enemy as the Robots arrive on Earth – but what do they want, and where has the human race gone? It's a race against time, but without Sarah Jane's expertise, Clyde and Rani must trust each other like never before if they're to save the whole world.

5: Lost In Time
Monday 8 and Tuesday 9 November, CBBC
Part One
A harmless investigation turns into an epic quest through time, as the alien-busting adventure series continues. Sarah Jane and the gang are separated by the enigmatic Shopkeeper and find themselves in three different time-zones throughout history, thrown together with ghosthunters, Nazis, Tudors ... and a mysterious parrot called Captain.
While Sarah Jane tries to prevent a future tragedy, Clyde has to take on the Third Reich single-handed. But Rani discovers to her horror that the march of history cannot be stopped, as a greater danger from the Time Vortex threatens to consume them all.

6: Goodbye, Sarah Jane Smith
Monday 15 and Tuesday 16 November, CBBC
Part One
Sarah Jane faces her saddest day, as she realises that no one can defend the Earth forever, as the alien-busting adventure series concludes. She's saved the world so many times but must now hand over the task to safer hands. Clyde and Rani are distraught, and the forces of darkness gather as the inevitable day approaches.
Sarah Jane has gone – but a new regime begins at Bannerman Road! Clyde and Rani must face the fact that nothing lasts for ever – but can they still unite as a team, to face a new and deadly threat from Outer Space? Or is the old gang finished for good?




FILTER: - Sarah Jane - Broadcasting

US DVD Release Dates

Thursday, 28 October 2010 - Reported by Marcus
Doctor Who: The TV MovieThe 1996 TV Movie will finally get its North American release on February 8, 2011.

In August we reported that, for the first time, the rights to release the story outside the UK had been obtained by 2|entertain. The feature length episode is the only televised adventure of the Eighth Doctor played by Paul McGann.

The story was released in the UK as part of the Revisitions box set. In North America it will be released as a single story on two discs, containing the same extras as the UK version.

It has also been confirmed that the Third Doctor story, The Mutants, will be released in North America on the same day, February 8, shortly after it's released in the UK.

Both North American covers can be seen at TV Shows on DVD.




FILTER: - Canada - USA - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD - Paul McGann

Children in Need 2010: Christmas Preview

Wednesday, 27 October 2010 - Reported by Chuck Foster
In what is rapidly becoming a tradition, the BBC's charity appeal show Children in Need will once again include a clip from the forthcoming Doctor Who Christmas Special.

Slotted amongst the various activities listed in the latest press release is:
  • A sneak preview of the Doctor Who Christmas special
  • No other information is available at present, but in previous years this has been a teaser scene from early in the episode to whet our appetites for the main event on Christmas Day.

    This year's Children in Need evening is on Friday 19th November, 7:00pm on BBC One and the new BBC One HD.




    FILTER: - Special Events - Charities

    Telegraph Update

    Wednesday, 27 October 2010 - Reported by Chuck Foster
    We have been informed that, due to unforeseen circumstances, the free download of False Gods reported earlier this week - planned for this coming Saturday’s edition of The Telegraph - has been postponed. The article on Big Finish, however, will still be included in the paper and on the Telegraph’s website.

    On Saturday 30th Big Finish will be launching a November Sale on its site, with 10 acclaimed Doctor Who titles available at a discounted price. These include Spare Parts and Jubiliee, alongside some recent offerings Forty Five and The Bride of Peladon.





    FILTER: - Big Finish

    Filming roundup 26th October

    Tuesday, 26 October 2010 - Reported by Chuck Foster
    It was back to Cardiff today, with filming taking place in two locations during the course of the day.

    The daytime hours were spent at the Coal Exchange near Cardiff Bay - a frequent interior location for the series, used most recently for the forthcoming 2010 Christmas Special!

    The evening saw activity switch to Cardiff city centre, focussing around the streets just south of the New Theatre, Crockherbtown Lane and Park Place - another venue that has cropped up in past adventures. The following photos capture the transformation from Cardiff to the currently filming story's required setting!

    The story, being set in 1960s America, seems to require the recreation of a New York street, with the lane decked out with a number of American icons like hydrants and phone booths. A yellow cab was also on location (having also been seen during the day down the Bay), and the Thistle car park and road opposite the lane transformed into 44th Street.

    One scene filmed involved a tramp running past the taxi.

    Matt, Karen and Alex Kingston had been seen during the day, and a young girl was also present at both locations.










    FILTER: - Series 6/32 - Production - Filming Reports

    SFX talks to Russell T Davies

    Tuesday, 26 October 2010 - Reported by Marcus
    Russell T Davies has been talking to SFX Magazine about the infamous line in the latest episode of The Sarah Jane Adventures which has provoked much debate on the internet.

    In the episode the Doctor tells Clyde that he can have 507 different faces contradicting the 12 regeneration limit that was set in The Deadly Assassin in 1976.

    Davies told the magazine
    I could not resist! I was hooting. It’ll never stick, though. That 13 lives is stuck in people’s heads

    The Magazine is also appealing for questions for fourth Doctor Tom Baker who will be the subject of their regular “Fannish Inquisition” pieces.




    FILTER: - Russell T Davies - Tom Baker - Sarah Jane

    US News

    Tuesday, 26 October 2010 - Reported by Marcus
    Doctor Who is one of the programmes up for nomination in the annual People's Choice Awards.

    The programme is one of twelve listed in the Favourite SciFi/Fantasy Show category. Voting can be done on the website. The programmes will be short-listed on November 9th with the top rated show going forward to the final.

    Meanwhile Matt Smith will be a guest on CBS's The Late Show with Craig Ferguson on 16th November. Fans in Los Angeles can apply for tickets to the 3.30pm recording from the show's website. Smith will be joined on the show by Jeff Goldblum.




    FILTER: - Matt Smith - Awards/Nominations