Rare Pictures Surface

Wednesday, 18 July 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive

The Science and Society Picture Library has added to its site what are believed to be never-before-seen photographs of Jon PertweeKaty ManningNicholas Courtney and John Levene.

The set of seven pictures shows them at the opening of the BBC Visual Effects exhibition at the Science Museum in London in 1972.

Last month, the library made available for sale a print of the picture formed by joining together the two collectors' edition covers of Radio Times featuring the Doctor and the Master.





FILTER: - Production - Classic Series - Radio Times

Peter Tuddenham

Thursday, 12 July 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive

Actor and voice artiste Peter Tuddenham has died at the age of 88 after a short illness.

His vocal talents were used in Doctor Who for The Ark in SpaceThe Masque of Mandragora and Time and the Rani, but he will also be well-known to cult TV fans for providing the voices of Zen, Orac and Slave in Blake's 7, which was created by Terry Nation.

In addition, Tuddenham was in the Kaldor City audio spin-offs Occam's Razor and Death's Head, which were Doctor Who/Blake's 7 crossovers produced by Magic Bullet.

(Thanks to David and Lesley McIntee.)




FILTER: - Obituary - Classic Series

Sea Devils Fort For Sale

Tuesday, 10 July 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive

The fort that was used in the filming of The Sea Devils is up for sale.

A report in today's edition of Portsmouth daily paper The News says No Man's Land Fort - built in the 1860s as a sea defence against a feared invasion by the French that never happened - is on the market after the collapse of a commercial property finance business and the jailing of its boss.

The exterior of the construction - which is in the Solent, off the south coast of England - doubled as an abandoned sea fort when theDoctor Who crew went to Portsmouth in October 1971 for extensive location filming on the Jon Pertwee six-parter.

Now converted into a hotel plus events and hospitality venue, it is reported to be worth millions, and administrator KPMG says it is open to offers.




FILTER: - Classic Series - Press

Peter Davison and the Holy Grail

Monday, 9 July 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive

BBC News reports that, starting 23 July, Fifth Doctor, Peter Davison will be taking over the role of King Arthur in the West End production of Monty Python's Spamalot. The show is currently running at the Palace Theatre.

Bill Ward, from the ITV soap Coronation Street will be joining the cast at the same time as the sexually disorientated Sir Lancelot.

The producers of the show are also launching a new family friendly performance on Fridays at 5:15pm, aimed at kids and young audiences.




FILTER: - People - Classic Series - Peter Davison

November Audio Releases

Sunday, 8 July 2007 - Reported by Jarrod Cooper

BBC Audio have released covers and information on their November Audio releases.

Fourth Doctor Tom Baker reads the novelisation of his introductory story, Doctor Who and the Giant Robot by Terrance Dicks.

Martin Jarvis reads The Dinosaur Invasion by Malcolm Hulke.

Katy Manning provides linking narration on the soundtrack for The Curse of Peladon, which also includes a bonus interview.




FILTER: - Audio - Classic Series

UKTV: Who Is the Greatest Doctor Who?

Sunday, 8 July 2007 - Reported by Marcus
The UKTV Drama channel asks Who is the Greatest Doctor Who? next weekend, when it shows stories featuring each of the ten Doctors.

The channel's website features clips, fact files and a voting form to register your choice.

Stories being shown are An Unearthly Child, The Chase (episodes 1 and 5),Inferno (episodes 1 and 7), The Three Doctors, The Deadly Assassin, The Caves of Androzani, Attack fo the Cybermen, The Two Doctors, The Curse of Fenric, the 1996 Doctor Who TV movie, Rose, The Empty Child, The Doctor Dances, The Parting of the Ways, New Earth, School Reunion, Army of Ghosts and Doomsday.

The Sunday Times, in reviewing the weekend, says William Hartnell's portrayal of the Doctor is a wonderfully cantankerous antidote to David Tennant's jovial space-prankster. It lists among the weekend's other treats, repeat outings for 1970's brilliantly sinister Inferno, Peter Davison's finest adventure (The Caves of Androzani) and the genuinely unnerving The Deadly Assassin, in which Tom Baker loses his marbles

(Thanks to 'Terry')




FILTER: - Awards/Nominations - Classic Series

War Machines Audio

Thursday, 5 July 2007 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

BBC Audiobooks will release The War Machines on CD on August 6. "First Broadcast on BBC1 in 1966, The War Machines sees the TARDIS returning to Earth in the present day. The Doctor detects strange vibrations coming from the newly - erected Post Office Tower, and sure enough it is discovered to be the centre of operations for WOTAN, a super-computer with designs on taking over the world. The Doctor enlists the help of Sixties swingers Ben and Polly, who then become his travelling companions." The CD includes the complete audio soundtrack, with narration by cast member Anneke Wills (Polly). Click on the thumbnail for a larger version of the cover.




FILTER: - Audio - Classic Series

Classic Series on YouTube

Thursday, 5 July 2007 - Reported by Marcus
BBC Worldwide have uploaded a number of clips from the classic series onto YouTube.

The clips, which average around 3 minutes long, are mainly taken from the Jon Pertwee andTom Baker incarnations of the Doctor.

Stories represented include The Time WarriorThe Deadly Assassin and The Sunmakers.

There is also a chance to see how the original incarnation of The Master dealt with those who got in his way




FILTER: - Online - Classic Series

DVD Special Promotion

Wednesday, 13 June 2007 - Reported by Marcus
From July 2nd, 2Entertain will re-release a number of DVDs aimed at bringing the classic series to a new audience.

For a limited period, the DVDs will be available at a lower price and with new packaging. The titles have been carefully chosen as stories that may appeal to fans of the new series, that have not already purchased classic Doctor Who DVDs.

The actual content of the DVDs will be identical to the previously released version.

The eight stories to be re-released are:

  • Spearhead from Space
  • Genesis of the Daleks
  • The Hand of Fear
  • Earthshock
  • The Five Doctors
  • Revelation of the Daleks
  • Remembrance of the Daleks
  • The TV Movie




FILTER: - UK - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

Colin Baker Blog

Monday, 4 June 2007 - Reported by Marcus
The thoughts of the Sixth Doctor are now available online via the Colin Baker fansite colinbakeronline.com

Baker has agreed to post regular blogs under the title Thoughts of a Timelord. The first one, posted Sunday, talks about his current UK tour ofBedroom Farce along with previous companion Louise Jameson

The fansite aims to keep up to date with all of Colin Baker's activities, both past and present. There is also a guide to Colin's hit BBC series from the 1970'sThe Brothers.




FILTER: - People - Classic Series - Colin Baker