The Daily Telegraph will be making the Big Finish Doctor Who audio adventure False Gods available free for download for readers on Saturday 30th October.


The download accompanies an article on the new Doctor Who audio stories from the company that will feature in both the newspaper and on the Telegraph website. Readers will also be able to buy ten of the most popular Doctor Who stories at a substantial discount.



Update: the download has been postponed, see the latest update for more details.

The Sarah Jane Adventures has been nominated for an award in the BAFTA Children's Awards. The series is listed as one of ten shows in the Television Category, facing opposition from other popular children's programmes like Horrible Histories, Deadly 60, Tracy Beaker Returns and The Wizards of Waverley Place.

Votes can be entered on The BAFTA Kid's Vote 2010 until 26th November, and the ceremony takes place a couple of days later at the London Hilton, hosted by children's (and Totally Doctor Who) presenter Barney Harwood.

For more details on the Award ceremony, visit the BAFTA website.

2|entertain have confirmed that the third story in the Revisitations 2 Box Set will be the Second Doctor Story The Seeds of Death.

DVD commissioning editor Dan Hall gave the news in an interview with Radio Free Skaro. The Seeds of Death stars Frazer Hines as Jamie McCrimmon and Wendy Padbury as Zoe Heriot alongside Patrick Troughton as the Doctor. It was first released on DVD in February 2003.

The story joins The Carnival of Monsters with Jon Pertwee and Resurrection of the Daleks with Peter Davison, on the box set expected to be released mid 2011.

Hall confirmed that The Resurrection of the Daleks will contain a documentary fronted by Tenth Doctor David Tennant (mentioned here). He said the story will be released in both the four episode and two episode edition.

He confirmed that the missing Tom Baker Story Shada is in production and at present the plan is to release it with another title.

In the wide ranging interview Hall also talked about his plans for the range and his hopes and desires for the remaining classic stories which still have to be released.

The Sarah Jane Adventures topped the weekly ratings for CBBC with both parts of the series opener getting a confirmed rating of over half a million viewers according to figures released by BARB.

The Nightmare Man Part Two topped the charts with 0.67 million viewers with Part One getting 0.59 million watching.

The score is the highest rating for the channel since January and the third highest of the year so far, beaten by Tracey Beaker Returns.

The two episodes were repeated later in the week on BBC Two where overnight figures give the story an additional 0.21 million for Part One and 0.31 million for Part two. Final figures for these broadcasts will be out later this month.

The ratings are slightly higher than the series opener last year although are split over two showings.

The second issue of the fanzine Blue Box is now available.

In this issue

• 10 Films Every Doctor Who Fan Should Watch by Ian Wheeler
• Escaping Sunbeams (Fan Fiction) by Robin Bell
• Horror of Fang Rock Review by Richard Farrell
• Season Fnarg Reviews by William JP Turner, David MacGowan and Jez Strickley
• Paul Cornell Interview Part 2
• Art by Nathan Lindsell
• Prom Review by Tim Drury
• Rumours of Death by Jez Strickley

The Fanzine, which comes with a cover from Draculasaurus costs £1.50 in the UK and £2.50 for the rest of world. It can be ordered by PayPal from dalek82@hotmail.co.uk. Email for other options.

Sylvester McCoy has told fans he has been cast as Radagast the Brown in the upcoming film The Hobbit.

Rumours of the Seventh Doctor's involvement in the Peter Jackson film have been around for a while but this is the first conformation from the actor that he has been offered a role in the movie.

McCoy was speaking at the Armageddon Expo in Auckland yesterday, It is understood that McCoy had meetings in Wellington with Jackson and co-producer and co-writer Philippa Boyens last week, where he was offered the role, but that no contracts have yet been signed.

The Hobbit is slated for release in two parts, the first due in 2012. Production is currently delayed due to a dispute involving the New Zealand branch of Actors Equity.

Paul McGann is currently in New Zealand, a guest at the Armageddon Pop Culture Expo (Auckland, New Zealand) this weekend. On Saturday he appeared on a panel and revealed what is to be the 'new' costume for the Eighth Doctor.

The costume consists of a double-breasted black Naval jacket, with gold buttons. Part of of the ensemble is a courier pouch bag. However, the shirt and trousers were actually McGann's own and not part of the costume.

Also revealed is a new sonic screwdriver, courtesy of Weta Workshop, the wizards behind the effects on The Lord of the Rings. The screwdriver is similar to the one used by the current Doctor, Matt Smith, but has a wooden handle.

The revision comes some fourteen years since the original Eighth Doctor image was established for the 1996 TV Movie; this is now felt to be a little out of date and the new costume - still a work in progress - is said to be used for future promotional purposes.

No other information in known at present, other than this is an unofficial costume - but it is believed to have the blessing of the BBC.

The TARDIS crew will be materialising in Cardiff in order to mark the city's annual start to the Christmas festivities, with Matt Smith, Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill all expected to be on-hand to switch on the Christmas Lights.

The ceremony takes place at King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff Civic Centre, from 7:40pm on Wednesday 10th November.

Matt Smith:

Nigel Howells, Cardiff Council’s executive member for sport, leisure and culture:

This isn't the first time the show has been honoured in such a way; David Tennant and Billie Piper turned on the lights for the city back in 2005.

A holiday cottage, designed as a tribute to a long term Doctor Who fan, has opened in the South East of England.

Doctor John Smith's Cottage has been set up in memory of David Bannister who died suddenly last year at the age of 51, leaving a large collection of Doctor Who memorabilia.

Bannister had been a fan of the series since childhood and shared many happy moments watching the series with his brother Tony, who decided to refit a cottage in Kent in memory of his brother.

The property houses Bannister's extensive library of DVDs, CDs and books all of which are available for the use of the tenants. There is a Dalek in the living room and the private Courtyard features a blue Police Box.

The property is based at Lydd, one of the larger towns on the Romney Marsh in Kent. Bookings can made via the website.

The current issue of the Radio Times (23rd-29th October) includes an article with Matt Smith discussing who is his favourite companion in Doctor Who, plus the run-down on the Doctor's former companions appearing in next week's The Sarah Jane Adventures story Death of the Doctor, Elisabeth Sladen and Katy Manning.

On the Radio Times website you can find an exclusive photo gallery to accompany the story.

Plus, you are also invited to vote for your favourite companion, with the chance to win a limited edition Doctor Who Series Five Steelbook in either standard DVD or Blu-ray versions.

The closing date for the competition is the 1st November.